XP "critical updates"? Whats the deal??

[John Prophet]

Ok, I had a few customers and family members zapped by blaster. Of course that makes me quite interested in windows updates at this point.

I just rebuilt (reloaded) a Dell 8250. I did all the windows updates, DX 9.0b, Media player 9 etc. Kept going back to the update site till I saw no more critical updates. Ok, all is well I thought.

Now I see this http://www.microsoft.com/security/se...s/MS03-039.asp

This is a "patch" or "security update" that just came out yesterday. Here is the msoft explanation

A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise a computer running Microsoft® Windows® and gain complete control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

Ok, pretty standard so far.

But now why didnt/doesnt this show up as a "critical update"???? or even as a recommended update etc??

Am I supposed to now be telling people that they have to keep up with the update site PLUS be scanning microsofts site for other "critical updates" that arent critical enough to be on the regular update location??

What gives?

?? JP

[vass0922]

It should be listed as a critical update.
If you updated all of them yesterday you should be up to date.

You can check in the registry or add/remove programs to see if its already installed.

[John Prophet]

Well I havent checked the registry or add/remove yet. But I looked at the "View installation history" of my 2 xp machines...on of which is a fresh rebuild done last nite and updated yesterday. So I didnt see that patch in the installation history, nor did it show up as a "critical update". Same for my other xp machine which was probably critical updated within the last week.

One the one machine I might understand it because I always do the little mods to the services and I turn off the "messenger" which I think uses the dcom stuff (I could be wrong).

I just dont get it as far as how the average Joe user, who doesnt visit tech sites, is going to know about a patch unless it shows up as an auto update critical patch.

I just got a Dell laptop in the mail today..I will probably hook it up tomorrow and do updates. Maybe then I can see if its in the registry or rather the "add/remove" after I do the "critical updates". lol.

JP

[Starfury_2260]

I got a long list of updates at that windows update site, seeing as i'm on dialup and CANT download all these big files. Especially since I cant use Getright and pause the downloads.

[speedstik]

If you have an AV program and firewall, you should be protected from all of the stuff microsoft "patches" are supposed to address, at least the security related ones.