Microsoft releases security updates on the second Tuesday of every month.

The bulletin announces the release of 7 security updates.

Download the January security updates for Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft Developer Tools, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Server Software, and Microsoft Windows.

Watch a video about the updates

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Today the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) posted details about the December security updates. On Tuesday, January 8 at approximately 10 AM Pacific Time Microsoft will release 7 bulletins.

The easiest way to get the updates when they're available is to turn on Windows automatic updating. For more information about how this works, see Understanding Windows automatic updating.

The Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification Service offers details about security updates approximately three business days before they are released. We do this to allow customers (especially IT professionals) to plan for effective deployment of security updates.

Advanced Notification includes information about:

• The number of new security updates being released
• The software affected
• Severity levels of vulnerabilities
• Information about any detection tools relevant to the updates

Perhaps you're making wise plans to lose weight, exercise more, or quit smoking in 2013? While you’re at it, you can follow our resolution recommendations to help protect your privacy and safety online.

• Make sure all your passwords are strong, and change them regularly. Use long phrases or sentences that mix capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Use different passwords for different sites, especially those that keep financial information.

• Keep all software (including your web browser) current with automatic updating. In the newest versions of Windows, automatic updating is turned on during installation.

• Make sure you have legitimate up-to-date antivirus and antispyware software on your computer. Windows 8 includes antivirus protection that’s turned on by default. If your computer isn’t running Windows 8, download Microsoft Security Essentials for free.

• Think twice before you open attachments or click links in an email message, an instant message (IM), or on a social network, even if you know the sender. Confirm with the sender that the message is legitimate. Learn more about scams.

Learn more ways to help boost your malware defense and protect your PC.