Apply Microsoft's New Security Patches

As part of its monthly patch distribution, Microsoft has issued a series of new security updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office products (such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint). Several of the vulnerabilities addressed by the patches are categorized as critical. If left unpatched the vulnerabilities could allow hackers to remotely execute code (such as a worm) on vulnerable PCs. Businesses and home users have been urged to patch their PCs as soon as possible.

Microsoft Corp. released six patches to fix critical software flaws that carry its highest threat rating, including three for defects that attackers were already trying to exploit. The company said yesterday that the six critical flaws could allow an attacker to obtain some access to a user's computer. The software maker also released four other patches to fix vulnerabilities that the company deemed less severe.

Customers can download all the patches for free on Microsoft's security Web site www.microsoft.com/security and also can sign up to have them automatically delivered to their computers. The automatic update system had some problem yesterday but currently it is working fine.