Microsoft today said it would deliver seven security updates next week, three critical, to patch 28 bugs in Windows, Internet Explorer, Office and other programs in its portfolio.
But Microsoft's promise to start pushing an update to Windows Update this week -- part of its
response to the Flame espionage malware -- could disrupt this month's patching, one expert warned.
The number of updates was right on the average so far this year of seven per month, yet another indication that although Microsoft once used an even-odd schedule, patching more vulnerabilities in the even months, it has discarded the model.
"It's totally flat-lined," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Security. "The up-and-down is totally gone."
This month's Patch Tuesday will fix the largest number of vulnerabilities -- 28 all told -- this year. In May, Microsoft fixed 23 security flaws.
