AfterDawn: News

Microsoft patches 'record number' of security holes

Microsoft has released 34 security patches this week, as part of their regular monthly updates, a record amount.

Of the 34, many were "critical," Microsoft's most severe rating for security holes. The fixes included patches for holes in Windows Vista, XP, Windows 2000 and Windows 7.



The variety includes patches for Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Oulook and Silverlight.

McAfee, makers of commercial anti-virus software, said that many of the security holes patched this week were very dangerous because they exposed PC owners to malware if they visited the wrong web site or played a file that had "been tampered with."

Microsoft's former record for patches was 31 in June.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Oct 2009 13:08

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• 6 comments

• Lothros

  And I wonder how many new ones have been opened?

  15.10.2009 14:37 #1

• slickwill

  Oh, so that's why all those security updates where available to download for Windows 7 all at one time.

  15.10.2009 15:53 #2

• LissenUp

  Eh........it happens. Having 90% of the world's computer marketshare results in constant attacks. 6.5 billion people on this planet........even if 2 billion of MS operating systems are out there..........that's one hell of a number to concentrate attacks on.
  
  Statistics people........merely the statistical approach. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

  16.10.2009 01:56 #3

• vyze

  Being "proud" of patching a record number of security holes means that you also have the SHAME of having a record number of security holes TO BE patched. 34 patched, eh? HOW MANY were NOT patched? That's the question

  22.10.2009 16:20 #4

• fb2000

  Mac OSX, which has had LESS than 5 security updates in the last year>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Winblows.

  23.10.2009 22:20 #5

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by fb2000: Mac OSX, which has had LESS than 5 security updates in the last year>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Winblows.That's about how many people tried to hack a MAC last year also. Didn't I read an article here about a month ago when Apple released like a dozen patches at once for just one operating system and the ipod?
  
  

  Current System: Windows 7 RC1, DFI M2RS, ATI 3870HD, Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600, Athlon 9950, 6GB Corsair DDR2, 3TB RAID 5, 750GB Raid-1, 500GB RAID-1, 640GB RAID-0 Boot, 3ware 9690SA, Adaptec 2610SA, Adaptec 1430SA, Intel Gigabit NIC (PCI), LG 20X Lightscribe DVDR, Coolmax 1200w Power Supply, Logitech G15(first edition), Logitech G5(Second Edition), modified dell poweredge 1800 server case.
  Overall configuration: Perfect chair, two 22" widescreens overhead, Logitech 5.1 Audio

  24.10.2009 03:58 #6