Patches and Service Packs and How Do They Help?

When vulnerability is discovered in a computer program or operating system, it may become necessary to install a security patch or software patches to address the resulting issues.

The goal of these patches is to insure the correct functioning of the software or operating system and to insure that a computer is protected against a virus attack or other malicious activity from an external source.

To a certain extent the difference in the nomenclature for these updates or repairs is one of semantics. At the most basic level a "patch" repairs known issues in a computer system that could be exploited by a hacker. The context for the application of the patch may differ slightly, thus the variation in names. A software patch would be applied to a specific program to correct an error in function where as an anti-virus patch might seek to correct specific vulnerabilities linked to the functioning of one particular virus. A security patch, on the other hand, might be designed to strengthen aspects of a machine's connection to a network or to the Internet to guard against incursions into the system from outside sources.

For instance, in September 2005 Norton AntiVirus Version 9 Corporate Edition was found to have an issue that could allow an unauthorized intruder to access network servers by discovering the administrative login information. Symantec, the manufacturer of Norton AntiVirus, released a software patch that when installed, fixed the issue with the program. Arguably, however, the patch could also be called a security patch because it sought to plug a "hole" to the outside world that made a series of networked computers a target for attacks.

How are Service Packs different from Patches?

There is, however, a key difference in the term service packs vs. security patches. Service packs are groupings of other patches, usually too numerous or complex to be installed one at a time. Usually service packs are directed at repairing known issues in larger software environment like operating systems.

A good example would be the system worked out for Windows systems by Microsoft. Security patches for the various Windows operating systems are routine bundled in service packs that contain numerous Microsoft software patches. These patches deploy or install as a group, insuring that the individual user has put in place patches to address all known issues and achieved a comprehensive system update. Service packs are especially useful when a large number of computers need to be updated, especially multiple computers in a network setting.

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