Infinite Path

Microsoft is all set to release a major security update tomorrow which will include a total of 13 bulletins which, all in all, will take action against 34 vulnerabilities. Eight of these bulletins have been considered critical, which represents the most serious kind of vulnerability.

The security update is Microsoft’s biggest ever (totaling more fixes than June’s update of 10, which between them tackled 31 vulnerabilities) and numerous programs will reap the benefits, including several editions of Windows, Office, Silverlight, and Internet Explorer. At the moment, these programs are vulnerable to exploitation through various loopholes. Online criminals take advantage of these loopholes and can wreak havoc with the lives of those affected.

At a time during which online security is hitting the headlines with frightening regularity, Microsoft’s update is a further warning to PC users. The manner in which details of the update have been made public, far more so than usual, perhaps indicates the importance of consumers making sure as many levels of protection are in place as possible.

Jerry Bryant, Microsoft’s Senior Security Program Manager, has revealed that the official word behind the company providing so much detail is to provide users with the information needed to plan ahead so that the update can be deployed effectively.

Some consumers and small businesses have reacted anxiously to the prospect of the scale of the update, with several of the fixes likely to require a PC restart. Many businesses prefer to test such major updates before allowing wide-spread use so disruption and frustration may, unfortunately, be a feature of your Tuesday morning this week.