| With easy access to Broadband and DSL the | | | | when new Microsoft patches become available? |
| number of people using the Internet has | | | | First of all - patches are usually released |
| skyrocket in recent years. Email, instant | | | | the second Tuesday of every month. Often |
| messaging and file sharing with other | | | | these events are commented in the news and |
| Internet users has also provided a platform | | | | other media. Users should also signup for |
| for faster spreading of viruses, Trojans and | | | | email alerts or MSN Messenger alerts at |
| Spyware. Being on the Internet without proper | | | | Microsoft's security website at to be aware |
| protection is like walking in the rain with | | | | about updates. |
| no umbrella - you're gonna get wet no matter | | | | |
| how fast you run. | | | | Once patches are available Microsoft |
| | | | recommends installing them immediately. |
| With so many computers installed in home | | | | Depending on the confidence level of the user |
| offices it becomes critical that home users | | | | this should be done fairly soon after the |
| install the latest Microsoft patches when | | | | patch release. If a user has several systems |
| they become available. Older operating | | | | available it is recommended to test the |
| systems like Windows 98, Windows Millennium, | | | | patches on the least critical system first |
| Windows 2000, or Windows XP prior to Service | | | | before updating all machines. Only one |
| Pack require the user to initiate the process | | | | machine at a time is recommended to keep |
| of checking for security patches. Windows XP | | | | track of things and to be able to fix |
| Service Pack 2 has changed this and the | | | | problems. In Windows XP it is also |
| default settings are now notifying the user | | | | recommended to create a restore point first |
| of available updates automatically. This has | | | | so that the system can revert back to the |
| increased the level of security in some | | | | existing state before patching. Home users |
| areas, but there are a very large number of | | | | should closely follow the media about virus |
| users and computers that do not install | | | | outbreaks and updates. Waiting a few days |
| security patches or hot fixes provided by | | | | with patching a machine can make sense if |
| Microsoft. | | | | some critical work is done on the computer an |
| | | | important deadline needs to be kept. Nothing |
| How should home users actually handle the | | | | is more annoying than having to fight |
| task of patching their computers? As | | | | computer problems with limited time at hand. |
| businesses home users should do some research | | | | Speaking of time - never install patches |
| about the patches that are being installed? | | | | without having enough time at hand. Users |
| Just installing them and walking away will | | | | should allocate 60 minutes of time just in |
| work for a while, but sooner or later home | | | | case. If something goes wrong time pressure |
| users will run into an issue that a patch | | | | is the last thing you want to face when |
| breaks something and eventually renders the | | | | troubleshooting a machine that is down. |
| system useless. So, what should home users do | | | | |