【Pilar Coll】

In case you missed it,Pilar Coll on Tuesday, Microsoft dropped a patch to rectify some Windows 11 issues. "Some," however, is an understatement.

According to KrebsonSecurity, the Redmond-based tech giant released an update that fixes a "record number" of flaws — about 150 — for Windows 11 (i.e., versions 23H2, 22H2 and 21H2). Of course, macOS is no stranger to vulnerabilities, but they don't come close to what Windows users have to stomach.

To be fair, Microsoft has a more challenging deploy environment. Apple has familiarity with all the macOS-based hardware in its ecosystem, making updates more seamless for the iPhone maker. Windows, on the other hand, is tasked with accommodating a vast array of hardware configurations from various manufacturers, leading to complex update processes and compatibility challenges.

Still, I'm still traumatized by Windows updates wrecking my PCs, so I'm quite content with my M3 MacBook Air that replaced my good ol' trusty HP Envy x360.

Microsoft Tuesday patch fixes record-number flaws

As BleepingComputer pointed out, the Tuesday patch not only addressed approximately 150 flaws, but also fixes 67 "remote code execution" (RCE) bugs. RCE attacks allow malicious actors to remotely execute codes on your computer.

KrebsonSecurity said that the Tuesday Patch rectified 147 security vulnerabilities across Windows Defender, Bitlocker, Microsoft Office, SQL Server, Azure, and more.

Only three of those security vulnerabilities were deemed "critical" by Microsoft, indicating they posed significant risk to users.

3 critical flaws fixed in Microsoft's Tuesday patch

The "critical" three flaws affected Microsoft Defender, a security app designed to keep users' personal data safe from online threats.

Successful exploitation of those vulnerabilities, according to the CrowdStrike (a cybersecurity firm), would allow attackers to do the following:

• Upload files to sensitive locations, disrupting your PC's normal operations

• Send commands that wreck your computer

• Send malicious update files

Although 150+ vulnerabilities is quite substantial, it's a relief that Microsoft tackled these flaws in its Tuesday patch. However, I will say that I do not miss my old days of being a stubborn Windows user.

UPDATE: Apr. 17, 2024, 11:57 a.m. EDT This article initially referred to CrowdStrike as a threat intelligence blog. We changed this article to reflect that it is, instead, a cybersecurity firm.

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