BLOG POSTS > Microsoft’s January 2025 Update: Addressing Critical Windows Vulnerabilities

Microsoft’s January 2025 Update: Addressing Critical Windows Vulnerabilities

The patch covers a raft of vulnerabilities, rating 12 as critical. The critical flaws may allow:

Unauthorised data exposure.
Privilege escalation that allows hackers to access administrator privileges.
Inner system manipulation and disruption.
Ability for remote code execution on the targeted machine where an attacker can run code.

A total of eight different zero-day flaws were patched and three of these were actually being exploited by bad actors in the wild when the update arrived.
Breaking Down the Vulnerabilities

Ok, let us go into more detail on the number:

40 privilege escalation vulnerabilities.
14 cases of security feature bypass.
58 remote code execution flaws.
24 instances of information disclosure.
20 denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerabilities.
5 spoofing vulnerabilities.

Why These Updates Matter

This is especially true with zero-day vulnerabilities, as hackers can manipulate these before any patch is in place. Addressing the vulnerabilities, therefore, was to protect users against possible data breach incidents, system corruption, and other cyberattacks.
How to Stay Protected

If you have automatic updates enabled, your system should already be downloading and applying these patches. However, the process isn't complete until you restart your computer. To minimize disruptions, schedule your restart during non-working hours.

For users without automatic updates:

Go to Settings > Update & Security.
Click Check for updates to install the latest patches manually.

Dealing with Update Issues

Sometimes, updates can bring unforeseen issues, such as incompatibility or a drop in performance. If any issues arise:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > View update history.
Click Uninstall updates to find the problematic update.
Follow the prompts to remove it.

However, remember that removing updates may expose your system to vulnerabilities. Always be on the lookout for further patches that fix remaining issues.
Conclusion

Microsoft's January 2025 update has made it crystal clear that one must always be prepared and not be caught off guard by ever-evolving cyber threats. With critical vulnerabilities and actively exploited zero-day flaws fixed, timely deployment of these updates becomes paramount to keeping your systems secure.

Take some time to check your updates today; it's one of those simple steps that could save you a lot of headaches later on. Stay safe, and stay updated!