Microsoft has confirmed that an unpatched bug in Windows 7 could give hackers the ability to bring machines to a standstill. But the firm has condemned a security researcher for the way he publicized the bug, despite having used similar tactics themselves.

Microsoft and independent security voices both say an update in this week’s “Patch Tuesday” collection should be the top priority for all users. Failure to do so could leave users vulnerable to a particularly serious security gap.

A Microsoft tool designed to help law enforcement staff to rescue data from a suspect’s computer has appeared online. At least one filesharing site has taken it down, raising questions as to how advanced or secretive the tool truly is.

Worms are the quickest growing security problem for Windows PCs this year according to Microsoft. It comes as “drive-by downloads” and adware become less of a problem.

When Microsoft announced Microsoft Security Essentials, its new free antivirus software designed to replace Windows Live OneCare, it was treated with contempt by the vendors of both other free antivirus software and the paid-for security suites. But a recent testing of the most popular antivirus products placed MSE on a par with the paid-for products and above its free competitors.

Microsoft Security Essentials may not be as extensive or powerful as the paid alternatives, as the vendors of those suites were quick to point out, but it’s a good first-line defense against a range of malware. Microsoft has now released preliminary figures showing its usage and it seems to show a successful launch which quickly proved the time and effort in developing the MSE software.

With 13 patches for a total of 34 problems, it’s a whopper of a Windows Update this month. However, security experts are warning that some fixes should take priority over others.

What’s the first thing you are going to do with your new Windows 7 machine? The correct answer is to patch it immediately.

Microsoft has good reason to ensure Windows PCs are secure and malware-free. Because if they aren’t, it reflects badly on the company that many blame for the problem in the first place. So it is today releasing its new, free Microsoft Security Essentials software, an antivirus and antimalware product offering protection from viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans.

Even for a Windows user, iTunes offers some useful tools: it lets you synch your iPod, play podcasts, and organize your music collection. And now it will even let your business create XML configuration files from iPhones. What do you mean you don’t want to do that?

There’s nothing like a good bitch fight between two of the biggest tech companies in the world. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing between Microsoft and Google over the security of Chrome Frame, with Microsoft claiming the plug-in makes IE less secure and Google taking the exact opposite view. Let battle commence.

Microsoft says it has evidence hackers are exploiting an unpatched bug in its server software, which it announced last week. The firm says a patch is on the way, but it appears unlikely to be part of this week’s Patch Tuesday update.

Microsoft has always maintained that Windows Vista sold well despite the bad press it received in the run-up to launch and beyond. However, those figures are now being put into perspective by the Windows 7 sales figures in Europe. To say Windows 7 is proving popular is a huge understatement.

Microsoft has warned anyone using Windows XP or Server 2003 to apply a workaround to a serious security problem in Internet Explorer. The issue, which doesn’t yet have a patch for a permanent solution, is already being exploited by hackers.

We’ve known about Microsoft’s plans to release a free antivirus tool form some time now, and last week saw the first screenshots of the software leak on the Internet. Now, Microsoft has officially taken the wraps off its replacement for Windows Live OneCare, with a beta version of the now-titled Microsoft Security Essentials, is coming on June 23.