Update Your Windows PC to Avoid This Wi-Fi Security Flaw
Microsoft’s latest Patch Tuesday update brings a number of bug fixes to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, one of these vulnerabilities is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to hack your PC while it’s within range of Wi-Fi .
As The Register reports , Microsoft has addressed 49 security vulnerabilities in its latest Patch Tuesday update, but there are actually three of the most interesting: the first, which Microsoft says is public (but not exploited), is tracked as CVE-2023-50868 and could allow an attacker to overwhelm your processor to the point where it stops working correctly. The second, CVE-2024-30080 , concerns Microsoft Message Queuing: this flaw allows a remote attacker to send a malicious data packet to a Windows system and execute arbitrary code on that system. This issue doesn’t necessarily impact individual users that much, but Microsoft has given it a high severity rating, and while it hasn’t necessarily been exploited yet, the company believes exploitation is more than likely. But the last flaw seems to be the most serious: CVE-2024-30078 is a vulnerability affecting Wi-Fi drivers. The company says an attacker could send a malicious data packet to a computer using a Wi-Fi network adapter, allowing them to execute arbitrary code. In practice, this could allow someone within range of another user’s Wi-Fi to hack their computer just through that Wi-Fi connection. And since this affects many different versions of Windows, attackers will likely try to take advantage of this flaw as soon as possible.
It’s a scary concept: if someone learns to exploit this vulnerability, they could use it to attack other Windows computers in their immediate vicinity. Imagine a field day a hacker might have in an area with a high density of laptop users, such as a coffee shop or shared workspace. Luckily, the latest security updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 fix these issues, so you can safely return to your coffee shop corner office after the update.
How to install the latest patches on a Windows computer
If you’re using Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update . In Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update . Either way, click Check for Updates . Once it is available, download and install it on your computer.