Alert: Microsoft’s Latest Patches Address 27 Vulnerabilities

Microsoft recently issued security patches to fix 27 vulnerabilities, many of which are critical in nature. The vulnerabilities are significant and popular titles are affected like Windows, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and the new Edge browser. Microsoft users that ignore these security patches are putting their system at unnecessary risk.

If you’ve already applied the security patches, then rest assured, your computers are safe and what follows is an informative read of what you're protected from. On the other hand, if you haven’t yet applied the security patches, then we’ll go over why you’ve got good reason to worry.

In relation to the critical vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and Edge, hackers have found a way to remotely execute malicious code through Office documents or web pages. Microsoft goes into detail about this in the following security bulletins:

• Patch for Microsoft Office: MS16-099
• Patch for Internet Explorer: MS16-095
• Patch for Edge: MS16-096

Microsoft has also found and fixed vulnerabilities with the Windows Graphics Component, which affects Windows, Microsoft Office, Skype, and Lync. Hackers can exploit this vulnerability to remotely execute code through malicious documents and web pages.

• Patch for Windows, Microsoft Office, Skype, and Lync: MS16-097

Perhaps affecting the most users is a vulnerability discovered in Windows PDF Library, which comes bundled with Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. This vulnerability involves a critical remote code execution flaw. The Edge browser is uniquely affected by this vulnerability, giving hackers an opening to exploit a malicious PDF document hosted on a website, which they’ll use to trick users into downloading.

• Patch for Windows PDF Library: MS16-102

Not all vulnerabilities fixed by Microsoft are categorized as “critical.” The security patches also take care of vulnerabilities deemed “important.” Still, the lessened severity of the threat doesn’t mean users can afford to ignore the patches.

• MS16-101
• MS16-100
• MS16-098

Have you already applied Microsoft’s security patches? It’s important that you do and GTSS is standing by to assist if you require our services. To make this happen, simply call us at (803) 298-3008.

We should also mention that GTSS clients who are taking advantage of our managed IT service have no need to worry about applying the security patches; our techs have already remotely performed this task for you. This is the case with all security patches and major software updates, meaning that you can rest easy knowing that your system is protected.