In a rare alert, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has urged Windows users to plug a potential worm hole ...

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
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doesn't homeland security have better things to do? i mean, i know terrorists hacking my pc is scary, but i'm more afraid of things like bombs.
 

Tarrant64

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2004
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Originally posted by: fisher
doesn't homeland security have better things to do? i mean, i know terrorists hacking my pc is scary, but i'm more afraid of things like bombs.

:thumbsup:
 

cessna152

Golden Member
Feb 10, 2002
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You see, Microsoft releases these things called patches on every Tuesday. Its good to install said patches... every Tuesday.
 

gpgofast

Senior member
Oct 6, 2000
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The reason the Homeland security would issue this is NOT for the home PC user. Many different areas of critical infrastructure industries rely on Windows operating systems. From water and sewer plants, power industry, airline industry, etc.. most of these types of users will ensure that Windows updates do NOT interfer with normal PC function before pushing out the updates on their networks. This was meant as a "hurry UP" for those types of users. Just my guess. GP
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Originally posted by: cessna152
You see, Microsoft releases these things called patches on every Tuesday. Its good to install said patches... every Tuesday.
Second Tuesday of every month, you mean.
 

mchammer

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2000
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If using the widows firewall, it doesn't matter anyway right? (Assuming no exceptions box is clicked)
 

stash

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2000
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The firewall without F&P sharing turned on is a mitigation, but you should still patch.
 

kobymu

Senior member
Mar 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: gpgofast
The reason the Homeland security would issue this is NOT for the home PC user. Many different areas of critical infrastructure industries rely on Windows operating systems. From water and sewer plants, power industry, airline industry, etc.. most of these types of users will ensure that Windows updates do NOT interfer with normal PC function before pushing out the updates on their networks. This was meant as a "hurry UP" for those types of users. Just my guess. GP

You know, this is the probably THE funniest thing with windows. On one hand a lot of companies relay on microsoft for their OS needs, but on the other hand a lot of the same companies IT/admin staff don?t trust windows patches until they evaluate/test them their selves (myself included). This is like one of the industry biggest conundrums.
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
This patch is really to allow the Department of Homeland Security to monitor your PC.

<-----------------------P and N
 

networkman

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
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Originally posted by: kobymu
Originally posted by: gpgofast
The reason the Homeland security would issue this is NOT for the home PC user. Many different areas of critical infrastructure industries rely on Windows operating systems. From water and sewer plants, power industry, airline industry, etc.. most of these types of users will ensure that Windows updates do NOT interfer with normal PC function before pushing out the updates on their networks. This was meant as a "hurry UP" for those types of users. Just my guess. GP

You know, this is the probably THE funniest thing with windows. On one hand a lot of companies relay on microsoft for their OS needs, but on the other hand a lot of the same companies IT/admin staff don?t trust windows patches until they evaluate/test them their selves (myself included). This is like one of the industry biggest conundrums.

Not so much a connundrum when you consider the environment that most IT/admin staff are working in; with relatively few exceptions, most environments also run non-Microsoft software, whether it's their email system, VoIP system, databases, webservers, backups, etc. If you happen to be in the very tiny minority that have strictly Microsoft software, then you can probably patch with complete confidence. The rest of us need to make sure the patched OS is gonna place nice with our other vendor's app, because Microsoft isn't generally going to do that for us. ;)