Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science
January 11, 2019

Critical Windows Updates

What do I need to do?

All SCS Windows computers have new updates available which must be applied to appropriately patch the operating system. Look to your system notification area of the Windows taskbar for system update notifications, apply pending updates.

Please restart your computer as soon as possible. If your system has not been updated, you can follow the steps below to update manually.

Microsoft Windows Updates

How to manually update Windows 7 and Windows 10

  1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button in the lower left corner. In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click either Windows Update or Check for updates.
  2. Click the Check for updates button and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
  3. If you see a message telling you that important updates are available, or telling you to review important updates, click the message to view and select the important updates to install.
  4. In the list, click the important updates for more information. Select the check boxes for any updates that you want to install, and then click OK.
  5. Click Install updates.

Note: It is important that your computer stay on during the update process. Laptops should be plugged into their power supply or dock before proceeding. Loss of power or interruption of patch installation can cause operating system corruption and affect functionality. 

Adobe Updates

Adobe releases updates to patch security vulnerabilities discovered in their software which require urgent attention. These should be applied as soon as possible if applicable to your installed Adobe software. 

All Adobe security patches available are listed on the Adobe Security Bulletins and Advisories page.

Adobe Flash Player

Despite a decline in use and adoption, Adobe Flash is still commonly found on many Windows computers. This software has been often exploited for vulnerabilities and patching is critical to ensure system security and proper functionality. If you are using the Flash Player that is installed with Google Chrome, Internet Explorer on Windows 8 or 10, or Microsoft Edge for Windows 10, your version of Flash on that browser will be updated automatically. To see your current version of Flash, and the most recent patched version of Flash for your browser, visit https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/.

Visit the latest Adobe Flash Security Bulletin for more information and update information at https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb19-01.html

Adobe Acrobat and Reader

Adobe Acrobat PDF is the most popular PDF document software. Given the volume of documents we all exchange in this format, security updates  

To see your current version of Flash, and the most recent patched version of Flash for your browser, visit: https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

View the latest Adobe Acrobat and Reader Security Bulletin for more information at https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb19-02.html.