Critical Updates vs. Security Updates

Though I've asked this question twice before, I've yet to receive an answer.
One more try. Perhaps if I word it differently, some MVP will know what I'm
talking about.

Is "critical update" synonomous with "security update"? Stated otherwise,
are there any critical updates that are not security related? If so, where in
the KB article associated with the latter would one find reference to its
being critical? I noticed that on the XP home page reference is made to
"critical security updates." This leads me to infer that some security
updates may not be "critical." Otherwise, the term is redundant. I do hope
someone understands my question.

Bob Fliegel wrote:
> Though I've asked this question twice before, I've yet to receive an answer.
> One more try. Perhaps if I word it differently, some MVP will know what I'm
> talking about.
>
> Is "critical update" synonomous with "security update"? Stated otherwise,
> are there any critical updates that are not security related? If so, where in
> the KB article associated with the latter would one find reference to its
> being critical? I noticed that on the XP home page reference is made to
> "critical security updates." This leads me to infer that some security
> updates may not be "critical." Otherwise, the term is redundant. I do hope
> someone understands my question.
Based on my understanding of Microsoft terminology, security
updates are always critical updates as they relate to security
vulnerabilities. Critical updates are not always security
updates. Microsoft will release critical updates to fix known
issues arising with the use of their software. Most of the ones
I have seen relate to fixing software bugs that arise from their
release of a product service pack.

Bob Fliegel wrote:

> Alan, that was my understanding, too. What I would like to know, though, is
> where in the KB article that relates to a NON-security related critical
> update does one find reference to the fact that it's "critical"?
>
> -- Bob
>
> "Alan" wrote:
>
>> Bob Fliegel wrote:
>> > Though I've asked this question twice before, I've yet to receive an answer.
>> > One more try. Perhaps if I word it differently, some MVP will know what I'm
>> > talking about.
>> >
>> > Is "critical update" synonomous with "security update"? Stated otherwise,
>> > are there any critical updates that are not security related? If so, where in
>> > the KB article associated with the latter would one find reference to its
>> > being critical? I noticed that on the XP home page reference is made to
>> > "critical security updates." This leads me to infer that some security
>> > updates may not be "critical." Otherwise, the term is redundant. I do hope
>> > someone understands my question.
>> Based on my understanding of Microsoft terminology, security
>> updates are always critical updates as they relate to security
>> vulnerabilities. Critical updates are not always security
>> updates. Microsoft will release critical updates to fix known
>> issues arising with the use of their software. Most of the ones
>> I have seen relate to fixing software bugs that arise from their
>> release of a product service pack.
>>
I need to modifiy my response. Critical updates fix what
Microsoft deems to be critical non-security related bugs in their
offerings. Security updates are issued to fix security
vulnerabilities. All security updates are not critical.
Microsoft rates them either as critical, important, moderate or low.

Bob Fliegel wrote:
> For some reason, I'm not making myself clear. I will try again.
>
> I want to go back through my installed updates to determine which of those
> that were not security related were nonetheless designated "critical." My
> question is this: exactly WHERE in the associated KB article will I find
> mention of the fact that that particular update was "critical"?
>
> "Alan" wrote:
>
>> Bob Fliegel wrote:
>>
>> > Alan, that was my understanding, too. What I would like to know, though, is
>> > where in the KB article that relates to a NON-security related critical
>> > update does one find reference to the fact that it's "critical"?
>> >
>> > -- Bob
>> >
>> > "Alan" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Bob Fliegel wrote:
>> >> > Though I've asked this question twice before, I've yet to receive an answer.
>> >> > One more try. Perhaps if I word it differently, some MVP will know what I'm
>> >> > talking about.
>> >> >
>> >> > Is "critical update" synonomous with "security update"? Stated otherwise,
>> >> > are there any critical updates that are not security related? If so, where in
>> >> > the KB article associated with the latter would one find reference to its
>> >> > being critical? I noticed that on the XP home page reference is made to
>> >> > "critical security updates." This leads me to infer that some security
>> >> > updates may not be "critical." Otherwise, the term is redundant. I do hope
>> >> > someone understands my question.
>> >> Based on my understanding of Microsoft terminology, security
>> >> updates are always critical updates as they relate to security
>> >> vulnerabilities. Critical updates are not always security
>> >> updates. Microsoft will release critical updates to fix known
>> >> issues arising with the use of their software. Most of the ones
>> >> I have seen relate to fixing software bugs that arise from their
>> >> release of a product service pack.
>> >>
>> I need to modifiy my response. Critical updates fix what
>> Microsoft deems to be critical non-security related bugs in their
>> offerings. Security updates are issued to fix security
>> vulnerabilities. All security updates are not critical.
>> Microsoft rates them either as critical, important, moderate or low.
>>
I can only tell you where I have observed it: In the title and
the opening line of the summary.

Hi Bob - You might be able to figure out what you need using this tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In news:B559EFD2-2307-4A2C-959B-,
Bob Fliegel <> typed:
> For some reason, I'm not making myself clear. I will try again.
>
> I want to go back through my installed updates to determine which of
> those that were not security related were nonetheless designated
> "critical." My question is this: exactly WHERE in the associated KB
> article will I find mention of the fact that that particular update
> was "critical"?
>
> "Alan" wrote:
>
>> Bob Fliegel wrote:
>>
>>> Alan, that was my understanding, too. What I would like to know,
>>> though, is where in the KB article that relates to a NON-security
>>> related critical update does one find reference to the fact that
>>> it's "critical"?
>>>
>>> -- Bob
>>>
>>> "Alan" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Bob Fliegel wrote:
>>>>> Though I've asked this question twice before, I've yet to receive
>>>>> an answer. One more try. Perhaps if I word it differently, some
>>>>> MVP will know what I'm talking about.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is "critical update" synonomous with "security update"? Stated
>>>>> otherwise, are there any critical updates that are not security
>>>>> related? If so, where in the KB article associated with the
>>>>> latter would one find reference to its being critical? I noticed
>>>>> that on the XP home page reference is made to "critical security
>>>>> updates." This leads me to infer that some security updates may
>>>>> not be "critical." Otherwise, the term is redundant. I do hope
>>>>> someone understands my question.
>>>> Based on my understanding of Microsoft terminology, security
>>>> updates are always critical updates as they relate to security
>>>> vulnerabilities. Critical updates are not always security
>>>> updates. Microsoft will release critical updates to fix known
>>>> issues arising with the use of their software. Most of the ones
>>>> I have seen relate to fixing software bugs that arise from their
>>>> release of a product service pack.
>>>>
>> I need to modifiy my response. Critical updates fix what
>> Microsoft deems to be critical non-security related bugs in their
>> offerings. Security updates are issued to fix security
>> vulnerabilities. All security updates are not critical.
>> Microsoft rates them either as critical, important, moderate or low.