8 responses to “MS-DEFCON 2: Get your system locked down, patches are coming”

1. 

   EP October 12th, 2011 at 05:32

   oh darn, woody. some of the just released October 2011 security patches do involve .NET Framework. doh! Security bulletin MS11-078 mentions new patches for .NET and Silverlight.

   The Silverlight patches I’ll apply ASAP; the .NET patches, I’ll pass for now.

2. 

   woody October 12th, 2011 at 06:45

   @EP -

   Why patch Silverlight? Wait and see if it messes up anything.

   Aren’t you glad you got those .NET patches applied from last month?

3. 

   Barbara October 12th, 2011 at 20:04

   I have never figured out WHY I need Silverlight. Will the world come to an end if I uninstall it?

4. 

   woody October 13th, 2011 at 06:31

   @Barbara -

   Chances are good you’ll never notice it was gone.

5. 

   EP October 20th, 2011 at 11:05

   @Barbara: You can easily remove Microsoft Silverlight from the Add/Remove Programs control panel app in XP or from the Programs & Features control panel app in Vista/Seven.

   @woody: The Bing Video site is one site that uses Silverlight. I watch certain videos there and Silverlight hasn’t wrecked my computers and is working fine.

6. 

   Bill October 21st, 2011 at 21:07

   I check here from time to time and it usually says not to install patches. Yet from time to time it has said it is ok to install them. How about the older ones? I have some from months ago that I did not install when they came out and often wonder if I should ever install them. When you say it is safe to install the patches, does that include the older ones that you advised to not install when they came out? I have checked Susan Bradley’s listing when I have seen links here, but still wonder when and if I should install a patch that is warned against installing when it comes out. If when you say it is ok to install patches, are the links that I have for the patches from months ago going to give the same problem or will it take me to an updated patch that does not have problems? – thnx for keeping us informed.

7. 

   woody October 25th, 2011 at 07:56

   @Bill -

   It’s cumulative. When I give the go-ahead, you can install ALL outstanding patches.

   Susan’s advice is excellent – better than mine, if you’re willing to pick and choose which patches you want to install. But if you’re a “red light, green light” kind of person, wait for me to give the green light. Then go ahead and install everything (with possible exceptions, noted in the post).

   If you haven’t patched in several months, go ahead and install everything now. The potential problems from patching aren’t nearly as great as the problems from not patching for extended periods of time.

8. 

   Bill October 31st, 2011 at 23:21

   @Woody. Thanx again for this service and for the clarification!