Windows Updates Today - 4/11/06
Notice to all Windows users, Microsoft has released critical patches today for all supported versions of the Windows OS. At least 6 patches and hotfixes apply to Windows XP and 2000, and all of them require a hard reboot to completely install. If you run as an Administrator and have turned on Automatic Windows Updates, check the golden shield in your Systray to see if it contains an exclamation mark down the middle. If so you have downloaded the patches but need to reboot as soon as possible to install them.
If you downloaded and installed the eEye temporary patch for the CreateTextRange vulnerability, you should uninstall it (the patch will prompt you to uninstall it).
You must be running an Administrator level account to remove the patch or obtain any Windows Updates. If you run as a limited or power user you will have to either switch users to an Admin account, or log off, and log onto an Administrator level account to do these updates, then reboot into the same account, then log off and onto your daily browsing account.
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To learn more about the differences between Limited Users, Power Users and Administrators, read my Privileges Explained web page on wizcrafts.net.
Once you understand how these accounts work, and how to switch between them, you will be able to run as a Limited User (in XP Home), or Power User (XP Pro and Windows 2000), for your daily Internet browsing, thus protecting your computer from installing almost all viruses, spyware and trojan horse threats. Virtually all malware programs require the infected account to have Administrator level permissions to install into system directories, and/or write to the registry on a system wide basis. This specifically applies to Rootkits.
Wiz's Blog is written by Bob "Wiz" Feinberg, an experienced freelance computer consultant, troubleshooter and webmaster. Wiz's specialty is in computer and website security. 