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Microsoft Patch Management for Home Users |
by:
Christoph Puetz |
With easy access to Broadband and DSLnumber of people usingInternet has skyrocket in recent years. Email, instant messaging and file sharing with other Internet users has also providedplatform for faster spreading of viruses, Trojans and Spyware. Being onInternet without proper protection is like walking inrain with no umbrella - you're gonna get wet no matter how fast you run.
With so many computers installed in home offices it becomes critical that home users installlatest Microsoft patches when they become available. Older operating systems like Windows nineeight, Windows Millennium, Windows twozerozerozero, or Windows XP prior to Service Pack requireuser to initiateprocess of checking for security patches. Windows XP Service Pack two has changed this anddefault settings are now notifyinguser of available updates automatically. This has increasedlevel of security in some areas, but there isvery large number of users and computers that do not install security patches or hot fixes provided by Microsoft.
How should home users actually handletask of patching their computers? As businesses home users should do some research aboutpatches that are being installed. Just installing them and walking away will work forwhile, but sooner or later home users will run intoissue thatpatch breaks something and eventually renderssystem useless. So, what should home users do when new Microsoft patches become available? First of all - patches are usually releasedsecond Tuesday of every month. Often these events are commented innews and other media. Users should also signup for email alerts or MSN Messenger alerts at Microsoft's security website at http://www.microsoft.com/security to be aware about updates.
Once patches are available Microsoft recommends installing them immediately. Depending onconfidence level ofuser this should be done fairly soon afterpatch release. Ifuser has several systems available it is recommended to testpatches onleast critical system first before updating all machines. Only one machine attime is recommended to keep track of things and to be able to fix problems. In Windows XP it is also recommended to createrestore point first so thatsystem can revert back toexisting state before patching. Home users should closely followmedia about virus outbreaks and updates. Waitingfew days with patchingmachine can make sense if some critical work is done oncomputerimportant deadline needs to be kept. Nothing is more annoying than having to fight computer problems with limited time at hand. Speaking of time - never install patches without having enough time at hand. Users should allocate sixzero minutes of time just in case. If something goes wrong time pressure islast thing you want to face when troubleshootingmachine that is down.
Aboutauthor:
Mr. Christoph Puetz issuccessful entrepreneur and alsointernational book author. Websites of Christoph Puetz can be found at Web Hosting Help and at Highlands Ranch Colorado.
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