Microsoft's Next Critical Update
Microsoft will have another round of critical updates next Tuesday, August 12th,(Microsoft Patch Tuesday) and it will affect ALL current versions of Windows EXCEPT Windows XP. The Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for August 2014 clearly indicates nine updates (2 of which are CRITICAL) and the affected Windows OS versions. The earliest versions of Windows mentioned by Microsoft for these updates are Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista. Interestingly, ALL versions of Internet Explorer starting with IE6 will be patched with one of the two CRITICAL updates because it is used on many Windows Server 2003 installations; however, it is ALSO used on Windows XP if not fully updated previously, which far too many people still rely upon. In any case, Windows XP is evidently left out of this CRITICAL update.
Updates Affecting PC Versions of Windows
There are a few individual updates that do not affect the average PC user but rather the Server versions of Windows. Let's be clear - if you use Internet Explorer as your browser, it will be patched on 08/12/14 with what Microsoft names Bulletin 1. What is important is that you DO GET the updates. If you run Windows Vista, you will see 4 total updates, Bulletins 1 (IE - Remote Code Execution Mitigation), Bulletins 5 and 6 (Elevation of Privilege Mitigation) and Bulletin 8 (Microsoft .NET Framework Security Feature Bypass Mitigation). Your PC must be restarted after applying these updates. Windows 7 will require Bulletin 1, AND 2 (Remote Code Execution Mitigation Excluding Starter and Home Basic versions), 5, 6, 8, and 9 (Windows Security Feature Bypass Mitigation). Your PC must be restarted after applying these updates. Windows 8 and 8.1 (plus RT and RT 8.1) will require the same six updates as Windows 7 and your PC must be restarted after applying these updates as well.
Updates Affecting Microsoft Office and Server Software
You might note that Bulletins 3, 4, and 7 have not been mentioned to this point. Bulletin 3 is Microsoft OneNote 2007 Service Pack 3 specific (Remote Code Execution Mitigation) so if you have OneNote you will need this update and it should install normally. Bulletin 4 is Microsoft SQL Server specific (Elevation of Privilege Mitigation) and you would only need it if that is installed on your system. Bulletin 7 is strictly Microsoft Server specific (Elevation of Privilege Mitigation) and you would not see that as a Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8/8.1/RT user. The end result is most people will have (depending on their Windows OS and if they have OneNote) 4-7 updates next Tuesday, August 12th. Install them. Full update on results of the actual updates will follow on Patch Tuesday!