Microsoft: No Patch Before Its Time

Microsoft held to its promise of last week, and let March's patch day slip by without releasing a single security bulletin.

A spokesperson, however, intimated that the lack of patches didn't mean that Microsoft thought its products were locked down and security tight.

"[The monthly release schedule] involves a significant testing focus to help ensure customers will receive updates that are of a high quality," the spokesperson said in an e-mail. "Microsoft will not release an update until it meets those standards. Occasionally the testing process and our strict focus on quality can result in a month where no security updates are released, as is the case today."

While patches were AWOL, the Redmond, Wash.-based developer did revise its free Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, another chore it's committed to doing monthly.

The revised tool, which is automatically downloaded and installed to Windows XP systems that have Automatic Update enabled, can now remove worms in the Bagle, Bropia, Sober, Sobig, Goweh, and Gaobot families. It's also added removal capabilities for 11 additional MyDoom variants.

Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 users must still download the tool manually from the Microsoft Web site, or use the online version on that page.