Windows Update - December patches

Question

I have 2 questions:

Question 1: The critical patches indicated on the December Microsoft Bulletin showed up as HIGH PRIORITY on my computer. This is the 3rd consecutive month this has occurred. Can someone please tell me why?

Question 2: Relating to update for KB923689. In the Tech notes under frequency ask questions saw the following:

"I have installed Windows Media Player 11 on my computer. Why am I being offered the Windows Media Player 6.4 security update?
While Windows Media Player 11 is not vulnerable, Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition will still have Windows Media Player 6.4 installed on the system for backwards compatibility."

The update for 6.4 security update was in my update list also, but I have Windows Media Player 10 which was not mentioned at all in the bulletin. Do I assume the above statement about WMP11 applies to WMP 10 also and install it?

joe53 · Answer

Can't answer your first question, but I see them listed as high priority at MS Update site also.   As far as the WMP 6.4 update goes- you will have WMP 6.4 in your files whether you use WMP 10 or 11. So yes, you should get it.

jmwills · Answer

Most updates, at least the critical one, are sent out to fight Zero Day vulnerabilites.  If MS says it's critical......there is a reason.

Polina · Answer

Joe53 - Thank you for your response to question 2. I'll be downloading that patch without any doubts now. :

jmwills - The ones that Microsoft says are critical, on my machine anyway, shows up as HIGH PRIORITY, instead of CRITICAL. That's why I'm confused. All the critical patches in the last 3 months have shown up as High priority on my machine. Prior to this, I used to get those critical patches via Automatic Update. But not anymore, since on my machine they're now come listed as high priority instead, so I have to download them manually.

Message Edited by Polina on 12-13-200601:00 AM

Message Edited by Polina on 12-13-200601:03 AM

joe53 · Answer

Polina:

I don't use Automatic Updates, but my understanding is that downloading may be delayed a day or so after the monthly release.

According to the FAQ's at the MS Update site, " High Priority" updates include
- Critical updates (non-security-related critical bug fixes)
- Security patches (which have severity ratings ranging from low up to critical)
- Update rollups (cumulative set of all hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates)
- Service packs

Confusing, no?

All of these High Priority Updates should download automatically, using Automatic Updates. In general, you should always install them, whether they are termed 'critical' or not.

Polina · Answer

joe53 - Thanks for the information and taking the time to respond.

Windows General

Windows Update - December patches

Was this post helpful?