Microsoft to release four critical patches

By Dawn Kawamoto
Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: June 7, 2007 3:50 PM PDT

Tools

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Microsoft announced plans Thursday to issue four "critical" security bulletins next week that address vulnerabilities in its Windows Mail, Internet Explorer and Windows XP.

Six bulletins in total, including the four critical fixes, will be released, according to Microsoft's advance advisory notification.

"Critical" is the most severe ranking Microsoft assigns to security flaws. That classification typically indicates that a system can be compromised remotely with little interaction required by the user.

Specifically, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003, IE 5.01 running on Windows 2000 with SP4, Outlook Express and Windows Mail in Vista are among the affected software.

Ironically, Microsoft has touted Vista as its most secure version of Windows to date, but even last April the software giant had to issue an emergency update that fell out of its usual monthly patch cycle.

The security update is designed to address Windows Mail in Windows Vista and Windows Vista x64.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 10 comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ironical?
by MadKiwi June 7, 2007 4:49 PM PDT: "Ironically, Microsoft has touted Vista as its most secure version of Windows to date, but even last April the software giant had to issue an emergency update that fell out of its usual monthly patch cycle."

You have to remember what MS is comparing Vista too, their previous operating systems. They aren't comparing Vista to other more secure operating systems....; Reply to this comment

Vista Only Less Unsecure
by Stating June 7, 2007 7:31 PM PDT: I don't think Microsoft ever said Vista is secure, only that is is "the most secure MS operating system ever". Remember, set expectations low and customers won't be disappointed.; Reply to this comment View reply
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No surprises...
by kool_skatkat June 8, 2007 1:52 AM PDT: It's just life as usual... patches, patches..; Reply to this comment

just like everyone else
by tgrenier June 8, 2007 6:41 AM PDT: can someone please name the hardware or software company that does not issue patches?; Reply to this comment

no
by mr. cynical June 8, 2007 7:04 PM PDT: No, and it does get tiring after awhile with all the hoo-hah about it. It's like the whole media hoopla around paris hilton. Who cares.

When you have 86% of the OS market, you're going to have alot of hackers trying to crack your system. More than anyone else. Apple issues patches as well just not as many because there's no money in cracking 4% of the market.

OSes are not ever going to be 100% crack proof no matter who makes them.

End of story.; Reply to this comment View reply
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