Current Security News for Dec 2016

Posted by Orion Network Solutions on February 13th, 2017

Updating your system with the latest patches will keep it safe and secure from hackers and other security threats. Microsoft, Adobe, and Oracle regularly release updates and security patches to reduce the chances of your computer falling prey to malware, hacking, and security breaches. Some of the most common security breaches that occurred in the past few months include remote code execution, which can be enabled if you visited a specially made webpage on Internet Explorer. Through remote code execution, the attacker can take control of your computer, install programs, create new accounts with your full user rights, and delete, change, or view all your files. 

Microsoft updates and patches for December 2016 

Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday for December 2016 came with 12 security updates. Six out of the 12 updates are rated ‘critical’ as they are fixes for problems that enable remote execution on an affected machine. Vulnerabilities to remote code execution let hackers take full control of your computer. Hence, all Windows users are advised to run update and install the patches as soon as they can. One of the most critical updates for Internet Explorer resolves vulnerabilities to remote code execution by correcting how the browser, the affected components, and scripting engines handle objects in the memory. 

Other critical Microsoft updates address security issues and vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge, Graphics Component, Uniscribe, .NET, and Office. The vulnerabilities can let an attacker execute a code remotely if you view or open a specially crafted webpage or document on those applications. For updates rated ‘Important’, Microsoft provides security patches for Windows, Secure Kernel Mode, Kernel Mode Driver, and Common Log File System Driver to fix memory problems and increase your system’s defense against hackers. 

A critical security update was released for Adobe Flash Player on Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows RT 8.1. It addresses vulnerabilities by updating affected libraries in IE10, Microsoft Edge, and IE11. 

Adobe and Oracle updates 

Nine security patches were released by Adobe to address issues in Robohelp, Flash, InDesign, Adobe Digital Editions, DNG Converter, and ColdFusion Builder. There were updates for Animator, Experience Manager Forms, and Experience Manager, too. Adobe has not released updates for Acrobat since October 2016. As for Oracle Java, there have been no critical patch updates released for December yet, but users who have not downloaded the October 2016 critical patch updates are highly encouraged to get them. 

About the Author: 

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.