Critical alert issued to all Windows users and you must restart your PC now

If you use a PC powered by Windows, you definitely need to head straight to your settings and download the very latest update from Microsoft. The US technology giant has just released its Patch Tuesday security updates, and it’s one of the biggest ever. In fact, this upgrade fixes a total of 206 flaws, with 32 of them being given a “critical” rating. If that wasn’t bad enough, a further three of these bugs are thought to be “zero-day” flaws, which means hackers already know about them and could attack PC owners in the future.

One of these issues is so serious that it could even allow cybercriminals to gain full control of a compromised system, putting personal data at risk. Another could allow an attacker with physical access to bypass BitLocker Device Encryption and gain access to encrypted data.

By installing the latest updates, devices will be protected from any attacks, which is why it’s vital to check settings without delay.

“This month’s Patch Tuesday fixes 206 security flaws in Microsoft software, making it the biggest Patch Tuesday release ever,” the security experts at Malwarebytes explained.

“The update includes 32 critical vulnerabilities, as well as three publicly disclosed zero-days. “Microsoft classifies these as zero-days because information about the vulnerabilities became public before patches were available.

“None are known to have been actively exploited by attackers.”

To check if your PC is ready for this vital upgrade, simply head to your settings and go to Windows Update.

Then check for any impending updates from Microsoft. If updates are found, they’ll start downloading automatically. Once complete, you’ll see a button that says Install or Restart now.

It’s then vital to follow that command and let your device reboot, as once things are fully updated, you’ll be protected from future issues.

"The huge number of fixed vulnerabilities makes this the largest Patch Tuesday since Microsoft launched the program in October 2003," Malwarebytes added.

"The company introduced the monthly update schedule after the Blaster worm caused disruption in the early days of Windows."