Microsoft releases fixes for record number of vulns Microsoft on Tuesday issued updates that plug a total of 49 security holes in Windows, Internet Explorer, and other software, the largest number of bugs ever to be fixed in a single Redmond Patch Tuesday release. Microsoft classified six of the 49 vulnerabilities as critical, a severity rating that's generally reserved for bugs …
And how many security related (i.e. critical) patches to the latest Debian since its release? Or Mac OS 10.6.4 (in nice 150+MB chunks as it update the whole of iTunes or Safari yet again)?
Fact is, all these things need fixing as issues come to light. Trotting out 'bad windows' or 'good Mac OS' or 'Linux completely secure' doesn't fix anything.
I checked yesterday morning in chase there was an update to Java. There wasn't, but there is now - Update 22.
By the way, can I download one file to install a recently updated Adobe Reader (9.4) on multiple machines, or do you now have to do it online only? I seem to be stuck with that. And yes, I do intend to continue using Adobe Reader.
Adobe Updater downloaded updates for Reader are stored in:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Setup Files
As for Windows vs Linux debacle on "security" based on patch count: tossers. Windows calls them "patches" because they rarely release increased capability outside of major revisions. (Office 2003 to Office 2007, if you can claim "increased capability" in that....), whereas in the *nix/FOSS world, "updates" of minor point revisions are usually "security patches." This disparity and lack of understanding of what the X.XX.XX major, minor, and point-revisioning system actually is representing is a core cause of the fail argument of: "Linux is rock solid! Just look! All they do is update their software with more FEATURES!!! and Windoze just patches their security holes!" Both patch their security holes. FOSS just happens to have the development schedule to do so (arguably) more rapidly. Neither is always a "best" solution. Linux can get a virus just as easily as Windows can. Don't believe me? Send a rootkit to a Linux user and tell them to run it. They won't? Send it to your Grandma running Linux and tell her to run it because you found out her computer had a virus and it will clean it. Sound like the scareware scheme used most of the time in the wild? Thought so.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
