Microsoft is preparing for its monthly patch release next Tuesday (12/12). The last official patch release for 2006 apparently will be smaller than the more recent releases.
On the slate will be 6 updates – 5 for Microsoft Windows and one for Microsoft Visual Studio. It appears that at least one of the Windows updates will be labeled Critical and the update to Visual Studio will also be Critical. In layman’s terms, critical means you better make sure you patch these holes because they are pretty nasty.
Also on tap is an update to Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (good grief, why can’t they shorten that name). Anytime a good tool like that is updated, it is always welcome :).
Unfortunately, missing from the list is a fix for the Microsoft Word vulnerability that was announced earlier this week. That means you still should not open ANY Word documents from someone you do not completely trust. Additionally, you should even BE CAUTIOUS of any Word documents you receive from people you do completely trust. Finally, DO NOT OPEN ANY WORD DOCUMENT you access through a web site.
