Microsoft released its monthly Windows patches today, and one of them is considered of critical importance. There is a flaw in the TCP/IP processing in Windows 2000, XP (with Service Pack 2), Server 2003 and Vista that could result in a user's computer being taken over. The other patch involves Windows' Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS), and could also result in an attacker being able to control an unpatched computer; this threat is rated as important.

If you don't already have automatic updates turned on in Windows, you should. Even if you do, it may be scheduled to run overnight. Consider taking 10 or 15 minutes now to visit Windows Update and install the patches right away.