Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is poised to release its largest ever number of security bulletins next Tuesday. At the moment, the software giant says that 34 holes will be patched, of which eight are considered critical, affecting popular software in its line-up such as Windows, Office, Internet Explorer and Silverlight. Another six were marked as important, and are covered over 14 security bulletins in total.

In addition to security patches, Microsoft is also planning to release an updated version of the free Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, reports Ars Technica. At least one or more non-security related, high-priority updates will also be delivered via Windows Update and Windows Server Update Services.

Wolfgang Kandek, CTO of security risk and compliance provider Qualys probably summed up the impact of next Tuesday's updates the best: "This is big, not only because of the numbers, but also because they'll affect everybody." For now, additional information can be found in the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for the month of August here.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News
- check out this article at Ars Technica
- check out this article at Computerworld

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