Vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating systems are frequently exploited by computer viruses and worms. As part of an ongoing effort to protect the Boston College computing environment, every computer running Windows must have all Critical Updates installed. BC Information Technology Services scans the network for vulnerable machines throughout each day. If you received a message instructing you to Install all Windows Critical Updates, follow all the steps below. Failure to do so will result in disruption of your access to the BC network.

Download and install Windows updates

To download and install Windows updates:

1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges. Faculty and staff using a BC owned computer should sign in with their BC username and password. Students and others using a personally owned computer should sign in with the Administrator account (the account that came installed on your computer at the time of purchase).
2. Close all open applications.
3. Click the Start button, select All Programs, then click Windows Update (see Figure 1).
   
   Figure 1.
   
4. A new window opens that lists the number of updates your computer needs. Click Install updates (see Figure 2).
    
   Figure 2.
   
5. Once installation is complete, restart your computer.