Blog Archives
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MS-Defcon 2 – Get ready to pause for Dec
Posted on December 1st, 2020 at 12:20 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeIt’s time to put the pause (or defer) for your updates. It’s the first Tuesday of the month and non security Office updates are out – PK has them listed here.
More in Computerworld!
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Zero day for Windows 7
Posted on November 25th, 2020 at 12:11 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeBleeping computer reports that 0-patch is releasing a fix for a zero day in Windows 7 and server 2008 R2.
I haven’t yet seen an out of band patch released to Windows 7 ESUs but I’ll keep you posted.
One clarification on that post, Sergiu says “At the moment, only small-and-midsize businesses or organizations with volume-licensing agreements can get an ESU license until January 2023.” You actually don’t need a volume licensing agreement in order to buy Windows 7 patches. Amy Babinchak is still selling Windows 7 ESUs and for anyone who bought them last year, she’ll be contacting you to see if you want the updates again this year. Microsoft hasn’t yet set it up so that the 2021 Windows 7 ESUs are on their price list, but I’m guessing December 1st is when they will post it to the price list. It’s expected to be twice the price of last years.
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MS-DEFCON 4 – It’s time to Patch for Nov
Posted on November 23rd, 2020 at 11:15 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeMy advice: If you have a zoom call coming up this week for a Thanksgiving get together – ensure that you do that Zoom call FIRST – then update your computer after that! So it’s okay to use this week as “computer maintenance week” (at least for those of us in North America). For those outside of North America I’m still ready to give the all clear especially for those on 1909.
Remember 1903 goes out of support next month.
More at Computerworld.com
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Early patching reports for November
Posted on November 14th, 2020 at 10:57 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeI’m seeing reports in www.patchmanagement.org from some admins reporting bsod’s after applying November updates to 2004 Windows 10. The BSOD occurs after going into sleep mode
So far the models that have reported issues are:
HP Envy x360
1.hp probook 650 g4
2.hp elite x2 1012 g2
3.hp probook 650 g5
4.hp elitebook x360 1040 g6I’m not seeing issues on my 2004’s and 20H2’s but if you are on 1909 on these models you may want to ensure you stay there for a bit as I’ve not seen issues reported on the 1909 platform only the 2004.
P.S. I’m not sure if it’s related to the Thunderbolt SSD bsod issue or not.
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The early view of November updates – we’re still at DefCon 2
Posted on November 12th, 2020 at 12:06 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeI’ve posted up my early take on the November updates in Computerworld.
More details and the Patch charts and listings will be coming up in the Askwoody newsletter out this weekend. Stay tuned.
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MS-DEFCON 2: Windows and Office patches out Nov 10
Posted on November 10th, 2020 at 12:09 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeJust a reminder. Today is the day. Usually about 10 a.m. pacific time is when I turn in my chair to look to the north (Redmond is located to the north of me) and see what the Mothership is offering up. I’m starting to see the updates show up in the Security portal.
We already know there’s a zero day in Windows that was used in targeted attacks.
Home/Consumer patchers: Make sure you are on pause and we’ll wait to monitor for issues. If you have a spare PC you can install updates and report back.
Business patchers: Start your testing. Install on a sample of PCs and monitor for issues. Make sure you can print and use your key line of business applications. Remember that there’s a zero day for Windows included in this bundle. Dustin Childs has his great write up here.
Don’t forget about the OTHER patches we may need to be aware of. For example Intel has just posted their security advisories.
(As you can tell I’m still getting in the swing of things, I forgot to title up what Defcon we’re on so I’m restating it again.
More later as we know it.
We have updates for Office 2010: Seriously: https://support.microsoft.com/en-nz/help/4583503/november-2020-updates-for-microsoft-office
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It’s time to pause
Posted on November 9th, 2020 at 11:16 Comment on the AskWoody LoungePatches that is. You know the drill by now, it’s time to make sure your computer is set to pause patches and not get them installed tomorrow. We do have a targeted Windows zero day that got “outted” by Google the other day which has already been patched in Chrome and (New) Edge, but not yet in Windows. The windows part of the zero day will be patched tomorrow.
I always recommend that you be on Pro and not Home and discuss this in the Computerworld article.
We’re at Defcon2 – and as soon as I get logged into the right console to change the image at the top of AskWoody it will show that up there as well. I’m embarrassingly checking my notes and apparently forgot to write down an important step. I’m going to have to bother Woody during his retirement for help already!Aw gee thanks Woody! (he logged in and fixed it already)
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MS-DEFCON 3: Get the October patches installed
Posted on October 29th, 2020 at 23:49 Comment on the AskWoody LoungeWe’re seeing some funny business with the ancillary patches this month, but the mainstream Windows cumulative updates and Office patches look good to go.
Big question is whether you want to upgrade from Win10 version 1909 to version 2004. I have a few observations. Bottom line: Susan Bradley has upgraded her 1909 machines to 2004. I’m still sitting on a fence. Really, there’s exactly nothing in 2004 that most people will want.
Step-by-step details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.