Security Update

February 11th, 2004 - 00:03 | 6 comments

I’ve read at least two reports in the last five minutes on the seriousness of a new security problem that affects all versions of Windows XP, as well as 2000 and NT4. More details here. When MSBlast hit it caused chaos, but we were lucky - it wasn’t destructive. Somebody’s undoubtedly already exploiting this new vulnerability and they may not be as ‘nice’, so get patched up via Windows Update, or you can download it directly here.

If you need any advice about updating / firewalls / virus scanners, I’ve got a page on Ballistic Duck devoted to security issues (please let me know if you feel I’ve missed anything, too).

Incidentally, I keep reading articles/posts recommending against any kind of auto-updating or use of Windows Update due to ‘the patch might break things - you should give it time to make sure’. Ignore this. This happened with a very early service pack for Windows NT. It was a long time ago, and hasn’t happened since. Even if it did, you’re almost certainly better off applying the patch than having Joe Hacker break into your PC and low-level format the hard drive.

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6 Responses to “Security Update”

1 Edward Feb 11th, 2004 at 6:58 pm

There’s something interesting about IPv6 and firewalls, in that they won’t work with IPv6 since they’re only used to using IPv4. Now, I can’t remember exactly but I think that the firewall for IPv6 comes with the windows installation which allows you to update, but I may be wrong.
Just wondered whether everyone had thought about this. I know that my router for one will be shot when we all go to IPv6.
2 Edward Feb 11th, 2004 at 6:59 pm

I think that for equality purposes you should call him/her Alex Hacker lol
3 Edward Feb 11th, 2004 at 7:00 pm

Oh, yeah I was just running Windows Update now and WindowsUpdate seemed to have been DOSed by the sheer numbers of epople actually updating!!! WOW!
4 Edward Feb 11th, 2004 at 7:01 pm

Sorry about this

Just remembered… I wouldn’t install any non-critical updates automatically since I’ve found that some of the Driver updates are just plain wrong. My sound card will stop working if install what Windows Update recommends.
5 Ben Feb 11th, 2004 at 7:53 pm

I’ll second that Ed, but only the drivers bit…everything else seems ok
For me, the updated sound card drivers etc that it’s constantly suggesting don’t work quite right.

(it’s nearly UT time! hoorah!)
6 Andrew Feb 11th, 2004 at 8:17 pm

Yeah, I once had a WU-recommended mouse driver stop 2K from booting. That was bizarre

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