Microsoft’s First Windows XP Patch in Years Is a Very Bad Sign. Plenty of Windows XP users are just folks who haven’t dusted off their Dell Dimension tower since the last Bush administration. For its final Patch Tuesday of the year, Microsoft issued 14 bulletins covering 20 vulnerabilities, with the most critical affecting Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 Three of the bulletins were deemed “critical,” the most serious type of vulnerabilit which allow an attacker to remotely execute. There’s maybe no better sign of a vulnerability’s severity; the last time Microsoft bothered to make a Windows XP fix publicly available was a little over two years ago, in the months before.
PRODUCT DISCLOSURE $
Hi, I had an old Windows XP computer I didn't use for years. As a result, it didn't download any of the preceding updates. I've started using this computer again about 60 days ago.
Jul 09, 2010 Last Patch Tuesday for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2. Microsoft published the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for July 2010 -revealing a relatively light month for patching. This coming Patch Tuesday will have only four security bulletins, but it's a crucial day for many IT administrators, as it also marks the end of Microsoft support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2. Download Security Update for Windows XP SP3 (KB4012598) from Official Microsoft Download Center. Surface Book 2. Visit Windows Update and click Express Install.
Microsoft regularly releases major updates to its Windows operating systems.
Formerly, those updates pushed through comprehensive service packs, but more often these days, they're semi-regular and significant updates through Windows Update.
In fact, in Windows 10 and Windows 8, the service pack, as we know it from previous versions of Windows, is essentially a dead idea. Much like updates on your smartphone, Microsoft is continually adding major features through automatic patching.
Latest Major Updates to Windows 10
As of October 2019, the last major update to Windows 10 is Windows 10 Version 1903, referred to as the May 2019 Update and code-named 19H1. This update began rolling out on May 21, 2019.
Updating is automatic through Windows Update.
You can read more about the individual fixes and improvements on Microsoft's What's New in Windows 10 Version 1903.
Latest Major Updates to Windows 8
As of October 2019, the latest major update for Windows 8 is the confusingly named Windows 8.1 Update.
If you've already updated to Windows 8.1, the easiest way to update to Windows 8.1 Update is through Windows Update. See instructions for manually installing Windows 8.1 Update in the Download Windows 8.1 Update section of our Windows 8.1 Update Facts piece.
If you are not already running Windows 8.1, see How to Update to Windows 8.1 for detailed instructions on applying the Windows 8.1 update. When that's done, update to Windows 8.1 Update through Windows Update.
Microsoft is not planning another big update to Windows 8, like a Windows 8.2 or Windows 8.1 Update 2. New features, if available, will instead be pushed through updates on Patch Tuesday.
Latest Microsoft Windows Service Packs (Windows 7, Vista, XP)
The most recent Windows 7 service pack is SP1, but a Convenience Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 (basically an otherwise-named Windows 7 SP2) is also available which installs all patches between the release of SP1 (February 22, 2011) through April 12, 2016.
The latest service packs for other versions of Microsoft Windows include Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3, and Windows 2000 SP4.
In the table below are links that take you directly to the latest Microsoft Windows service packs and major updates for each operating system. These updates are free.
The easiest way to install the latest Windows service pack or update is to run Windows Update.
[1] Beginning in Windows 8, Microsoft began releasing regular, major updates to Windows 8. Service packs will not be released.
[2] Windows 7 SP1 and the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update both must be installed prior to installing the Convenience Rollup.
[3] Windows Vista SP2 can only be installed if you already have Windows Vista SP1 installed, which you can download here for 32-bit versions, and here for 64-bit ones.
[4] Windows XP SP3 can only be installed if you already have Windows XP SP1a or Windows XP SP2 installed. If you do not have one or the other of those service packs installed, install SP1, available here, before trying to install Windows XP SP3.
[5] Windows XP Professional is the only 64-bit version of Windows XP and the latest service pack released for the operating system is SP2.
Microsoft posted a warning about an extremely dangerous flaw that exists in older versions of Windows. The vulnerability could lead to new self-propogating malware that bears a striking resemblance to the infamous WannaCry that wreaked havoc on systems around the globe in 2017.[2] Windows 7 SP1 and the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update both must be installed prior to installing the Convenience Rollup.
[3] Windows Vista SP2 can only be installed if you already have Windows Vista SP1 installed, which you can download here for 32-bit versions, and here for 64-bit ones.
[4] Windows XP SP3 can only be installed if you already have Windows XP SP1a or Windows XP SP2 installed. If you do not have one or the other of those service packs installed, install SP1, available here, before trying to install Windows XP SP3.
[5] Windows XP Professional is the only 64-bit version of Windows XP and the latest service pack released for the operating system is SP2.
Fortunately it only affects older versions of Windows. If your systems are running Windows 8 or Windows 10, there's nothing to fear.
Last Patch For Windows Xp 7
If you've been reluctant to let go of Windows 7 on the other hand, you do. Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, and 2003 are also affected.
So is Windows XP. Yes, there are still computers running Windows XP. Lots of them. In fact, around 1.7% of all Windows computers that are connected to the Internet still run the aging OS. The percentage slides just below 1% in the U.S., but that's still an alarming number given the total number of computers that are online.
Why, exactly, is it so alarming? Because Windows XP was released to retail channels all the way back in October of 2001. Microsoft ended long-term support for Windows XP in 2014. In theory the end of long-term support for a piece of software means the end of security patches and bug fixes.
Yet nearly 20 years later Microsoft has issued another critical patch for the operating system that refuses to die. The update has to be installed manually, so if you still own or manage any Windows XP computers (Or Server 2003 servers) you should go download the installer immediately.
It's critical that the update gets installed quickly, too. Now that the download is available, cybercriminals can (and will) start reverse engineering it to figure out how to exploit the vulnerability in Remote Desktop Services.
Hopefully lessons were learned from WannaCry and system administrators will act immediately. If they don't, we could be in for another round of sensational cyberattack headlines.
'>Microsoft posted a warning about an extremely dangerous flaw that exists in older versions of Windows. The vulnerability could lead to new self-propogating malware that bears a striking resemblance to the infamous WannaCry that wreaked havoc on systems around the globe in 2017.
The Microsoft Windows XP log-in screen is displayed on a laptop computer. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg News
BLOOMBERG NEWSThe weakness was discovered in a Windows component called Remote Desktop Services (which used to be known as Terminal Services). It's primarily utilized in enterprise settings like government institutions and large corporations.
According to Simon Pope, Microsoft's Director of Incident Response, exploiting the vulnerability doesn't require any user interaction and it happens before Windows gets a chance to ask for any credentials. That's an incredibly volatile combination.
Fortunately it only affects older versions of Windows. If your systems are running Windows 8 or Windows 10, there's nothing to fear.
If you've been reluctant to let go of Windows 7 on the other hand, you do. Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, and 2003 are also affected.
So is Windows XP. Yes, there are still computers running Windows XP. Lots of them. In fact, around 1.7% of all Windows computers that are connected to the Internet still run the aging OS. The percentage slides just below 1% in the U.S., but that's still an alarming number given the total number of computers that are online.
Why, exactly, is it so alarming? Because Windows XP was released to retail channels all the way back in October of 2001. Microsoft ended long-term support for Windows XP in 2014. In theory the end of long-term support for a piece of software means the end of security patches and bug fixes.
Yet nearly 20 years later Microsoft has issued another critical patch for the operating system that refuses to die. The update has to be installed manually, so if you still own or manage any Windows XP computers (Or Server 2003 servers) you should go download the installer immediately.
Latest Security Patches For Windows Xp Sp3
It's critical that the update gets installed quickly, too. Now that the download is available, cybercriminals can (and will) start reverse engineering it to figure out how to exploit the vulnerability in Remote Desktop Services.
Windows Xp Patch 2019
Hopefully lessons were learned from WannaCry and system administrators will act immediately. If they don't, we could be in for another round of sensational cyberattack headlines.