November’s Patch Tuesday

 

 

 

Yesterday’s Patch Tuesday brought lots of updates.  One of the key updates was a fix for Adobe’s Flash Player Software for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android devices.  If you have Windows 8, you will want to update manually if your Flash is not set to update automatically.  This update of Flash is version 11.9.900.152.  You can download the latest version of Flash by clicking here.

 

Also there are 5 important Microsoft updates to fix vulnerabilities in Microsoft Active X Control, Graphics Device Interface overflow, Ancillary function driver and Digital Signature Handling.  There are also fixes for Multiple word Memory Corruption Vulnerabilities and the Outlook S/MIME information disclosure flaw.  To get to these updates you can go to this page or go to automatic updates and choose for your updates to run automatically.  If your computer is set to automatic your computer was probably already updated.

 

**Note to Windows XP users.  Tuesdays updates have cause some issues with the SVChost.exe taking up all of the CPU usage.  If you experience this problem, please call our office.  516-762-0155. 

 

Keeping your computer up to date is the best way for it to function optimally.  Keep in mind that if you have Glasser Tech’s Proactive Care all patches and updates would be done automatically for you.  If you have any questions regarding November’s updates or Proactive Care, please feel free to call us. 516-762-0155.

 

Be aware of attackers exploiting TIFF Image Files

 

On November 5, 2013, Microsoft release a critical advisory warning customers of a vulnerability regarding TIFF images. 

 

Basically it has to do with how versions of Windows, Office and Lync handle TIFF images.  If you are lured into viewing a malicious image, including ones that are already embedded into Office documents, code can be executed on your computer that would allow the attacker to gain control of your computer.

 

Mostly these images have been arriving as malicious Word documents that have an embedded TIFF in them.  They would probably be sent to you in an email. 

 

Microsoft is working on a patch for this.  However, in the meantime, they have released a FixIt which you can apply.  While a FixIt is not considered a full patch, it is helpful.  When bulletins arrive like this, we can easily block TIFF images for you if you had a Watchguard Firewall.  To find out more about Watchguard Firewalls, please give us a call at Glasser Tech at 516-762-0155.