Microsoft Patch Day: 50 security holes(2021)

S.tets supplies Microsoft on the second Tuesday of each month his Windows operating system and other programs with updates. In addition to troubleshooting, they primarily protect PC users, as they keep plugging dangerous security leaks. In the past, the patches usually also affected Windows 7, which, however, took part in patch day(Microsoft Patch Day) for the last time in January 2020 due to the end of its life.

The improvement packages currently support the Windows 8.1 systems, its offshoots RT 8.1 and Windows 10 (including the server offshoots of Windows 8.1 and Windows 10). The company treats presently 50 vulnerabilities in Windows, .NET Core and Visual Studio, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, SharePoint Server, Hyper-V, Visual Studio code Kubernetes tools Windows HTML Platform and Windows Remote Desktop From the CVE vulnerabilities ( Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) five are classified as critical, 45 as important.

Further details are provided in English by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI, source for the number of gaps) on their blog. In 2020 there were a total of 1,250 bugs; in 2021, we will only have 447. The number of bugs in April 2021 was the highest in 2021 at 114.

Free Windows update tools

Thanks to an automatic system, you don’t need to do anything to update Windows 10. If you want to start the update manually, enter “update” in the start menu and click on the hit “Search for updates”. In the Settings app that opens, click the “Check for updates” button. For better handling of Windows updates, we recommend the following downloads:

»Media Creation Tool –

Force upgrade to the latest Windows 10 » Winaero Tweaker – integrates “Windows Update” into the Windows 10 control

panel »NTLite Free – integrates updates into the Windows setup medium

» wuapp for Windows 10 – enables the update Called up again by classic command

How to use the wuapp download optimally can be found in another article.

Another article reveals how to install the Windows update function in the control panel. To do this, use the Winaero Tweaker, whose surface initially looks confusing due to the multitude of functions.

Windows 10 12 times: who gets an update?

So far, Microsoft has released twelve major versions of Windows 10, so-called major releases: 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004, 20H2 and 21H1. The last three systems are located in the Update Support window. Users of the other systems go away empty-handed – or continue to receive updates by upgrading to a more recent Windows 10; this is therefore recommended. To change the design, use the Windows 10 Settings app with its update search or the Media Creation Tool(MCT). The system’s update search is sufficient to simply switch to the latest operating system. If the search routine doesn’t work or you want to get an ISO file to initiate an upgrade, the MCT download option is for you.

Microsoft Patch Day, which Windows will die next?

Support for Windows 10 1809 (October 2018 update) would have expired on May 12, 2020. Still, due to the corona pandemic, Microsoft extended support – which has now also passed, as has support for Windows 10 1903 (May 2019 update). The 1903 successor “Windows 10 1909” received an update for the last time in May 2021; Since June 2021, there has been no patchwork due to the dropping out of support. For more information on the final update availability dates, see the article on the Windows lifecycle together. A screenshot of a Microsoft table reveals the last update date of the various Windows (10) versions; Microsoft no longer provides the table under the original URL. The disadvantage of the overview saved by a screenshot is that it does not contain the latest Windows 10 versions.

Which improvements for which Windows?

In November 2019, Microsoft announced a joint update for Windows 10 1903 (May 2019 update) and Windows 10 1909 (November 2019 update) via changelog. It increments the build version number to a number that differs only slightly from system to system. It should mention that build version numbers indicate the Windows development status more precisely than major release version numbers such as 1903. With an update installation on Patch day and switching to a new major release, users receive a higher build number.

In the meantime, Windows 10 1903 and Windows 10 1909 no longer receive a collective update because both versions have dropped out of support. So far, Windows 10 2004 (May 2020 update) and 20H2 (October 2020 update) have received collective updates: They still do that due to their ongoing support, followed by Windows 10 21H1 (May 2021 update). Microsoft now only provides one update that these three operating systems receive: KB5003173. The KB patch raises the build number of the operating system to 19041.985 (Windows 10 2004), 19042.985 (Windows 10 20H2) and 19043.985 (Windows 10 21H1).

Microsoft highlights security improvements

Microsoft highlights security improvements in the update’s changelog when Windows performs basic operations in terms of OLE security and through updated Bluetooth drivers.

The Windows provider advises that Windows 10 21H1, 20H2, and 2004 share a common core operating system and system files. Therefore, the company is listing release notes for the three OS on a common update history page (see the changelog link above). Windows 10 21H1 and 20H2 always receive the corrections for the 2004 major release, but Microsoft does not provide Windows 10 2004 with fixes for the 2004 successors 20H2 and 21H1.

Check: What version of Windows do you use?

Do you have a current Windows 10 21H1, or is your PC “stuck” to an older version? You can find out which operating system variant is installed via Windows-R and the winter command out. For security patches to reach the computer, upgrade to a more recent Windows 10 version if necessary. Action is required if Windows 10 1909 (November 2019 Update) or older is installed.

With the OS debut Windows 10 1507, you will see the version information 10.0 because Microsoft subsequently renamed the system to 1507. The version names are made up of the (plan) release month and year. It is at least theoretically true since these major updates, called major releases, often on delay.

And with Windows 10 20H2, the Redmond company said goodbye to this naming strategy; the new major version information relates to the year (20) and the half-year (H2) publication. It’s better to remember. The old name declaration was problematic,

Update end for Windows 7, but not for MSE

On January 14, 2020, Windows 7 received updates for the last patch day. About ten years after the system was released, support expired on this date. From February 2020 to June 2021, Windows 7 no longer took part in the event. The anti-virus solution for Windows 7 (MSE, Microsoft SECURITY Essentials) should continue to receive signature updates, but the manufacturer does not maintain its engine.

However, there was one exception to the cut update supply for Windows 7: Microsoft has a bug fix called KB4539602released that fixes a bug in the system that crept in with the last update on January 2020 patch day (KB4534310). This bug-related update makes the desktop background appear black. The remedial KB4539602 update can be downloaded free of charge from the Windows update catalogue.

If you are still using Windows 7, you should switch to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 for security reasons and smoother operation. In this way, those affected extend the period of update provision. Corporate customers with a volume license agreement can continue to receive Windows 7 updates as an option but are subject to payment and costs per device rising regularly. Switching to Windows 10 is free with a valid Windows 7 license, but switching to Windows 8.1 is usually unattractive, not least because of the costs involved.

Safety first: collective updates for Windows ^ Microsoft Patch Day

Windows 10 updates are “cumulative”, which means something like “accumulating”. The monthly update packages contain all previous security patches so that computers stay safe regardless of the version status. With the patch day in October 2016, Microsoft also changed its update procedure for earlier versions of the operating system. Since then, Windows 7 / 8.1 have not received numerous updates, but rather a large cumulative update.

There are benefits and disadvantages here. The advantage is that the time requirements and the susceptibility to errors are reduced, as is the number of restarts for the installations. Critical one thing about major updates is that you have to do everything in one go. Selectively deselecting something no longer works.

Even savvy users don’t purposefully remove a particular update that’s causing trouble. If you want to settle down a problem, you have to weigh up if you wish to discard all security-critical bundled packets. With Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, function updates can delay for a long time.

It gives companies enough time to test patches for reliability. In the past, normal users practically played beta testers for Microsoft and had to accept all feature updates; Fortunately, they can now install explicitly in the Settings app with a click.

Major feature updates for Windows 10

Major feature updates have been so far releasing twice a year for Windows 10. Microsoft is now turning away from this strategy: Windows 10 continues to release twice a year in refurbished versions. Instead of two major updates with extensive function modifications, PCs only achieve one. The second update is used for maintenance and is similar to a service pack (such packages were available for Windows XP, Vista and 7, for example) – two packages with major upheavals will probably not be available in the future. It should increase the quality again; Due to Microsoft’s self-imposed compulsion to develop the latest system on a larger scale every six months, many annoying bugs entered Windows 10.

With the numerous Windows 10 improvement packages, Microsoft wants to provide users with the latest developments on time. This orientation naming “Windows as a Service”. The operating system should be more closely interlinked with the cloud and have a modular structure.

The model with the many features updates the way is the reason why Windows enjoys ten probably infinite update Support. A new update release extends the update deployment period. Exception is the enterprise-based version “LTSB” ( Long- Term Servicing Branch). Since 2019 “LTSC” ( Long- Term Servicing Channel), which is not available to private individuals.

Microsoft Patch Day: Every Tuesday

The Microsoft Patch Day usually takes place on the second Tuesday of each month. So the next fall on July 13, 2021. The security updates install automatically with the appropriate setting with an active Internet connection.

By the way: Microsoft usually distributes a refreshed version of its security application “Malicious Software Removal Tool” on Patch day. The download is available free of charge from computerbild.de:

Download: Download the 64-bit Malicious Software Removal Tool

»Download: Download Malicious Software Removal Tool (32-bit)

To start the anti-malware tool, press Windows-R and type MRT. After confirming a security query from the user account control, the minimal virus scanner loads manually. Otherwise, Windows Update should run it automatically. The update process will bring up the latest version of MRI.

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