Description: The Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update is a software update that addresses common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. Microsoft regularly releases Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Application Compatibility Updates. When you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications in Windows Vista or in Windows Server 2008, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Keep reading →

Though the Security Bulletin Advance Notification for August 2008 said Vista would be getting five updates, four were delivered. Missing from the list was a critical update for Windows Media Player. Also released were 7 other updates, mostly for Microsoft Office, revisions for four existing security bulletins, and two security advisories. Here’s what was released for Vista: Keep reading →

Description: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Outlook Express and Windows Mail. The vulnerability could allow information disclosure if a user visits a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. This security update addresses the vulnerability by changing the MHTML protocol handler in Windows so that it securely handles MHTML URLs in redirection scenarios. Keep reading →

Description: This update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the way certain Windows Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) rules are applied. This vulnerability could cause systems to ignore IPsec policies and transmit network traffic in clear text. This, in turn, would disclose information intended to be encrypted on the network. An attacker viewing the traffic on the network would be able to view and possibly modify the contents of the traffic. Note that this vulnerability would not allow an attacker to execute code or to elevate their user rights directly. It could be used to collect useful information to try to further compromise the affected system or network. The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring that IPsec rules are processed appropriately. Keep reading →

Description: This security update resolves five privately reported vulnerabilities and one publicly disclosed vulnerability. All of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. The security update addresses these vulnerabilities by modifying the way that Internet Explorer handles the error resulting in the exploitable condition. Keep reading →

Microsoft posted the Security Bulletin Advance Notification for August 2008 today. In all, seven security updates are being released that affect the Windows Operating System, with five of them affecting Windows Vista. Three are ‘Important’, the other two ‘Critical’. Expect updates for the following issues on Tuesday, August 12th: Keep reading →

XP has required almost twice as many updates as Vista since Vista’s release, with Vista averaging only 1.5 per month. Keep reading →

Ed points out how all modern OSs need updates, and compared to others, Vista has needed far less. Keep reading →

Description: This security update resolves a publicly reported vulnerability in Windows Explorer that could allow remote code execution when a specially crafted saved-search file is opened and saved. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. The security update addresses these vulnerabilities by modifying the way that Windows Explorer parses saved searches. Keep reading →

Windows Vista application compatibility updates are software updates that address common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. Microsoft regularly releases Windows Vista application compatibility updates. This article lists three ways to get the latest update, including links to the downloads. Keep reading →