Microsoft to release six patches, some 'critical'

IDG News Service - Microsoft Corp. will release six software patches Tuesday covering flaws in its Windows operating system, along with an updated version of its Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and a nonsecurity update for Windows, Microsoft announced today.
The patches, which Microsoft calls "updates," are part of the company's regular monthly patch release cycle. Microsoft releases most software patches on the second Tuesday of each month, a date that has come to be known as "Patch Tuesday" by security professionals.
The company didn't release any details on the specific nature of the patches, except to say that some of them will be rated "critical," meaning that flaws could allow malicious code to be installed on an affected computer without user action. The updates will require a restart on the patched computer and are detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, Microsoft said.
The company also noted that while the software removal tool update will be available on Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update and Download Center, it will not be distributed using Software Update Services.
Last month, Microsoft released three patches on Patch Tuesday.