Microsoft Issues Emergency Security Fix for Windows: What You Need to Do About It

On Monday, July 20th, Microsoft issued a critical security bulletin aimed at all users of its Windows programs.  According to Knowledge Base Article 3079904 and Security Bulletin MS15-078:

This security update resolves a vulnerability in Windows that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted document or goes to an untrusted webpage that contains embedded OpenType fonts.

This security update is rated Critical for all supported releases of Microsoft Windows.

This update is available through Windows Update. When you turn on automatic updating, this update will be downloaded and installed automatically.

If you have automatic updates turned on, your system should already be safe.  But if you don’t, you’ll need to download this update immediately.  First, check to see if you have automatic updates on and therefore already have the fix installed:

How to check whether you have automatic updates turned on:

Windows 8

1. On a touch screen, swipe in from the right side of your screen, and tap on the search icon that appears (the magnifying glass). If you’re using a mouse or don’t have a touch screen, move your mouse over the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, and then move up and click the search icon.
2. In the search box area, type Windows Update, and then tap or click on the first item that comes up in the search list: Windows Update Settings. The screen that comes up will either tell you that you have automatic updates turned on, or will prompt you to turn it on.  Select the Install Updates Automatically option.

Windows 7

1. Click the Start button at the bottom-left-hand corner of your screen (the windows four-color logo), and type Windows Update into the search box area.
2. Choose Windows Update from the list of options that appear.
3. In the left-hand section of the window that appears, select Change settings.
4. Choose the Install Updates Automatically option if it is not already checked.

What to do if you did not already have Automatic Updates turned on before July 20th:

For Windows 8, download the security update here.

For Windows 7, download the security update here.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, and please, stay safe out there!

images courtesy of pixabay.com and day2daybiz