Windows Security Patches Coming Next Week

Toronto – Please be aware that at approximately 10 a.m. Pacific time on “Patch Tuesday”, March 10, Microsoft will release three security patches. This information was announced on Friday, March 6.

The “critical” patch (designating the highest of Microsoft’s four slert levels) affects Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows Server 2003 and 2008 and is meant to fix critical security voids that allow hackers to enable dangerous code on users’ computers.

Two “important” security updates, only one of which affects Windows XP or Vista, repairs “spoofing” in which hackers basically redirect users to a phony Web site which then launches malware which steals sensitive information such as credit cards info, logins or other information of a personal nature.

Unfortunately there isn’t a fix yet for the Excel security flaw (announced a week ago) where attackers can create code remotely on computers using an infected Excel spreadsheet enabling a “Trojan horse”. This type of attack fortunately is not widespread, and Microsoft is working on a solution for this problem.

Office and other Microsoft products will not be affected by any fixes this month.

Also put on your calendar that on Wednesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. Pacific time, Microsoft will host a Webcast to answer customer questions.