In hopes to avoid any more destructive cyberattacks, Microsoft has rolled out on Wednesday a host of security patches for Windows devices intended to obstruct malware attacks like resembling the WannaCry ransomware outbreak in May.
Microsoft said the security patches comes with the Tuesday update into the bargain. The update is automatically rolled out to operating system versions supported, such as the Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and other versions released not later than 2008.
Microsoft also made the security update to older versions of Windows via manual download and installation, including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. According to the company, the inclusion is a precautionary move as many businesses are still relying on older Windows versions.
In a blog post, Microsoft's general manager of the Security Response Centre Eric Doerr has emphasised that the additional security patches treats the system's vulnerabilities.
"Our decision today to release these security updates for platforms not in extended support should not be viewed as a departure from our standard servicing policies", states Doerr. "Based on an assessment of the current threat landscape by our security engineers, we made the decision to make updates available more broadly. As always, we recommend customers upgrade to the latest platforms".
In a press statement released by Microsoft earlier today, it has underscored the importance of this update in the face of an imminent threat. The firm's general manager of the Cyber Defence Operations Centre Adrienne Hall has cited an "elevated risk of cyberattacks by government organizations, sometimes referred to as nation-state actors, or other copycat organizations".
With this added protection on top of the monthly security update, many are wondering if the company has received a threat of an imminent attack. However, the company has not responded to the question.
In May, thousands of business establishments and government agencies had fallen victim to the WannaCry ransomware wherein PCs were locked down by cybercriminals, and asked to send in money through bitcoin to recover the files. Windows XP users were mostly affected by the said malware attack.
