Microsoft typically releases Windows security patches on the second Tuesday of each month. August was no exception. But something unusual happened the following Wednesday. We received word that Microsoft security personnel had sent several e-mails and made a couple of phone calls to office of OSU’s CIO urging them to plan an “ASAP installation of the latest patches.” There is a sense of urgency about the latest round of updates which includes the “extremely critical” MS06-040 security patch. Even the Department of Homeland Security has issued a release urging Windows users to avoid delay in applying the security patches.

What can you do? First, make sure Windows XP’s Automatic Updates are are turned on. Secondly, go to Microsoft’s Update site: http://update.microsoft.com and select “Express” to download and install any Windows updates you may be missing. You may have to visit the site several times if your computer hasn’t been updated in a while. Keep updating until there are “No high-priority updates for your computer are available.”