Microsoft recommends new security updates

Microsoft is urging Windows users to download its latest security updates, to fix critical flaws.

Three loopholes affecting Windows and Internet Explorer, could allow an attacker to take control of a personal computer. Seven other updates have been released to address less serious problems in Windows, the Exchange server system, services for the Unix operating system, Microsoft’s Interactive Training software for Windows, and ISA server, a network firewall program.

Microsoft releases regular monthly security bulletins, as part of a strategy to improve the security of its software. It notified Windows users last week that its was releasing a bumper pack of patches.

Stephen Toulouse from Microsoft’s Security Response Center, said “For all consumers we recommend that they have Automatic Updates enabled”. This is a feature in Windows that downloads the software patches automatically. The patches are also available from Microsoft security website.

Microsoft is planning to offer its own anti-virus and security updates for home computers, called Windows OneCare. The service, which would be on a yearly subscription basis, is being tested by Microsoft employees before a trial release for the rest of the world later this year.