Security Updates & Patches

[Paul]

I have Comcast High Speed Internet and Norton Security
Professional 2004.
I recently was contacted by Comcast with the following
message...
Dear Comcast Customer,


This is a letter from Comcast High-Speed Internet - with
important recommendations on how to protect your computer
from malicious attack.

Recently, Microsoft identified a critical flaw in its
operating system that could allow an attacker to gain
remote access to users' computers. To help protect against
such attacks, Microsoft has developed a patch and made it
available.

Because your protection is of paramount importance to us,
Comcast wants to make sure all of our customers are aware
of the availability of this patch. We strongly recommend
that you download the Microsoft patch to protect your
computer from malicious attack.

To access patch:
Click on the following link to the Security section of the
Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/200402
10
_windows.asp

Please take the time to follow the outlined steps to help
ensure your computer's safety from this latest threat and
uninterrupted Internet access.

For more information and additional security updates
When I went to the site I had difficultly installing two
of the patches. MY QUESTION IS IS ONE HAS NORTON SECURITY
ARE THE PATCHES REALLY NEEDED? DOES ONE GET THEN WHEN
THEY DO A SECURITY UPDATE? Thanks, Paul

 

[David Adner]

I assume Norton Security Pro is a personal firewall and/or antivirus?
If so, then you should still install security patches. Many of the
exploits arrive via email, which your firewall will happily allow
through (this is normal) and your antivirus software will only intercept
if they happen to have the latest defs that can detect them. To avoid
being vulnerable regardless, your system should be patched.