April 12 is "Patch Tuesday" for Windows users. This month you can expect to be very busy. Microsoft plans to release no less than eight security patches, at least four of which are considered to be critical. The patches will include critical updates for Microsoft Office, MSN Messenger, and Exchange. The company also announced that beginning April 2005 it will change its Security Bulletin Advance Notification information provisioning to include information about Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool as well as any tools that would be related to upcoming security patches.

Microsoft will also begin providing advance notice of non-security-related high priority updates on Windows Update and Software Update Services (SUS). On its advance notice Web page the company clarified that the "information will pertain only to updates on Windows Update and only about non-security updates being released on the same day as security updates. Information will not be provided about non-security updates released on other days." As such, on April 12 Microsoft said it intends to release non-security-related high priority updates for Windows platforms, where those updates will be made available on the Windows Update site and also made available via SUS.