Security news
Security news15 December 2004
Microsoft issues important security updates, Sophos advises customers to patch now
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| Microsoft has issued a number of important security updates. |
Microsoft has issued a batch of security fixes for users of Microsoft Windows. The software company has rated the patches as "important" (its second highest level of severity), and recommended that affected customers apply the updates at the "earliest possible opportunity".
The security vulnerabilities reportedly fixed by the fixes, could allow viruses, worms or remote hackers to run malicious code on a vulnerable computer.
"Everyone who uses Microsoft's software should ensure they are keeping up-to-date with the regular security patches - before they are exploited by hackers and virus writers," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Anyone who keeps their head in the sand about these security issues is leaving themselves dangerously exposed."
Home users of Microsoft Windows can visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com to have their systems scanned for critical Microsoft security vulnerabilities.
Earlier this month, Microsoft issued advice and protection against a critical security hole in its Internet Explorer software that had already been exploited by the Bofra worm.
Sophos recommends that every IT manager responsible for security should consider subscribing to vulnerability mailing lists such as that operated by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/notify.mspx.
Sophos continues to recommend companies protect their desktops and servers with automatically updated anti-virus protection.
