IT Support in Sacramento: What You Should Know about Microsoft’s Latest Emergency Updates
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Recently, Microsoft released emergency updates. These updates were issued early in January to provide security for Windows devices from the Meltdown and Spectre bugs. For cybersecurity, these are the most critical vulnerabilities for Windows users so far in 2018, and we at Noverus Innovations, as an IT support provider in Sacramento, wants you to know the latest updates concerning critical software updates issued by Microsoft.

What Are Meltdown and Spectre?

Meltdown and Spectre are two vulnerabilities in computer hardware processors. They affect a common architecture in computer chips that was developed to make computers faster.

Am I Affected?

These vulnerabilities affect chips produced by Intel, AMD, and ARM. This means all kinds of computers (laptops, desktops, servers) and devices like smartphones and tablets are affected.

Is It Time to Panic?

At Noverus Innovations, we really don’t think so. Since discovering these vulnerabilities early last year, security professionals and developers have been working hard on figuring out how to mitigate the threat. Much of the work was already done and updates were shipped before any public announcement was made.

Furthermore, there has been no indication so far that the vulnerabilities have been used to attack any users.

Does It Only Affect Windows?

No. These vulnerabilities affect all commonly found operating systems, such as android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, and Microsoft Windows.

What Updates Do I Need?

As of January 3, 2018, Microsoft had issued a range of updates that help mitigate the effects of these new vulnerabilities. Microsoft has also deployed updates to its secure cloud servers. Microsoft’s updates provide protection for Windows operating systems, MS Edge, and Internet Explorer web browsers.

To ensure cybersecurity, you will need an IT support provider in Sacramento to update any installations of Windows operating systems as well as the Windows web browsers. Any other web browsers should also be updated.

The critical update you want is the January 2018 Windows OS security update issued by Microsoft. If you have automatic updates turned on in your Windows devices, this update should already be in place.

You should check to confirm that this Windows update has been installed. Instructions on how to do this are found in the “How do I see installed updates on my PC?” section of this Microsoft Windows Update: FAQ.

Is That All I Need to Worry About?

Unfortunately, no. Some of the Windows OS updates cannot be installed without corresponding updates from anti-virus software vendors. By now, these updates should already have been deployed, but you will need to ensure that your anti-virus tools are up-to-date.

Firmware Updates

You will also need to make sure that any firmware updates issued by hardware vendors have been installed. This is true for any computers and devices.

What Next?

The task of monitoring and responding to cybersecurity threats can be pretty challenging, even for one big event. At Noverus Innovations, Inc., as an IT support provider in Sacramento, we specialize in helping businesses stay ahead of challenges like this. Contact us today for more information.