Microsoft Preps Critical Windows Patches

Microsoft next week plans to release three patches for several of its software products, including at least two critical updates for known vulnerabilities, according to the company's monthly security update.

Microsoft plans to release one critical patch for its Microsoft Exchange messaging server and two patches, at least one of which is critical, for Windows.

All the updates may require a restart and will be detectable using Microsoft's Baseline Security Analyzer tool. The Windows patches also can be detected through Microsoft's Enterprise Scanning Tool, the company said.

More information about the security updates can be found online.

Microsoft releases security updates for its software products on the second Tuesday of every month, a day that has become known as "patch Tuesday" by security experts.

More Updates Available

Also on Tuesday, Microsoft plans to release an updated version of its Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services, and the Download Center. However, the tool will now be distributed using Software Update Services, the company said.

Microsoft will host a webcast to discuss the security updates next Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. More information about the webcast can be found online.