If you haven't run Windows Update lately, please do so

Start menu, control panel, whatever ... just run it and install any and all critical/security updates, especially MS08-067.

Microsoft issued a critical update a month or so ago that plugs a security hole in all versions of Windows. Unfortunately, not everybody has Windows Update set to run automagically; maybe they just find it annoying or don't understand why it's there. (Hi, Mom.) The trouble is that if they don't run it, the security hole is still there and malware operators are using it to build a new botnet.

Thank you. We appreciate it and we invite botnet operators to suck it.

(Botnet: Network of computers hijacked by malware, normally used to relay and resend thousands of spam e-mails, sometimes used for worse things, always for the financial profit of the botnet owner. Big business among the mafiya.)

 

Early Tuesday: Microsoft releases largest security update in 5 years, so update.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9123042

Later Tuesday: Microsoft admits it missed something important.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9123100

Given the last paragraph, you're probably OK on that one.

 

Probably worth a bump.

 

Mine apparently automatically ran today. I turned on my comp this morning (afternoon) and it said it had updated and had to restart.

 

Mine ran last night and this morning (afternoon).

 

My computer guru says that the update (KB890830) for the Microsoft Malicious Sortware Removal Tool is essential. He says there have been some malware forms develooped lately that cannot be touched unless this update is active.

Anyway, I did the update and it took less than 5 minutes and a simple "Restart" and all is well...

 

It wasn't until after I got up this morning that I realized my Windows Security Center wasn't running, and I restarted after I did the updates yesterday. Odd.

 

Done. Thanks 2muchcoffee!

 

Explains all the spam you sent me..

 

Me and my Mac are safe and happy. Suck it, peecees! ;D

 

I have Vista. This means I'm safe, right?

 

Fixed.