What are Hotfixes?
Hotfixes are bits of code in the form of small files that patch bugs or problems in software, most notably in Microsoft™ operating systems (OSs). As vulnerabilities are discovered, Microsoft releases hotfixes or patches to keep the software as secure as possible. Microsoft also uses the term Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) to refer to hotfixes. Hotfixes are automatically downloaded and installed when end-users have the “automatic update” feature of Windows enabled. Barring this, an occasional trip to Microsoft’s website is warranted to manually check for hotfixes. Patches might be rated to let the end-user know if the bug is critical or if the vulnerability only presents a low-level threat. Hotfixes are also explained so that the end-user knows what bug or vulnerability they address. Not all users will require all patches, and files can be downloaded and installed at the user’s discretion when updates are made manually. A Service Pack (SP) is a collection of hotfixes bundled together. Wind
