Windows 7: Microsoft Releases Biggest-ever Security Update

There are 16 groups of patches (called updates) in total. Microsoft says that two of them -- the Internet Explorer fix numbered MS10-071 and a Windows patch numbered MS10-076 -- should get top priority. Microsoft thinks attack code is likely to be developed that will target bugs fixed by both of those updates.

Just because the other fixes are not rated critical does not mean they can be ignored. Symantec says 35 of the 49 bugs fixed on Tuesday could give hackers a way to run unauthorized software on a victim's machines, and Microsoft says attacks are likely to be developed that exploit some of the lower-rated issues as well.