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Patch (computing)
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<h2 id="types">Types</h2> <h3>Binary patches</h3> <p>Patches for <a href="/facts/Proprietary_software/9zcskxYL">proprietary software</a> are typically distributed as <a href="/facts/Executable_file/VSst9eLA">executable files</a> instead of <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a>. When executed these files load a program into memory which manages the installation of the patch code into the target program(s) on disk. </p><p>Patches for other software are typically distributed as data files containing the patch code. These are read by a patch <a href="/facts/Utility_program/Hn3XtISQ">utility program</a> which performs the installation. This utility modifies the target program's executable file—the program's <a href="/facts/Machine_code/bgdQ1Fxf">machine code</a>—typically by overwriting its bytes with bytes representing the new patch code. If the new code will fit in the space (number of bytes) occupied by the old code, it may be put in place by overwriting directly over the old code. This is called an inline patch. If the new code is bigger than the old code, the patch utility will append load record(s) containing the new code to the object file of the target program being patched. When the patched program is run, execution is directed to the new code with branch instructions (jumps or calls) patched over the place in the old code where the new code is needed. On early 8-bit microcomputers, for example the Radio Shack <a href="/facts/TRS-80/zNfQKxnQ">TRS-80</a>, the operating system includes a PATCH/CMD utility which accepts patch data from a text file and applies the fixes to the target program's executable binary file(s). </p><p>The patch code must have place(s) in memory to be executed at runtime. Inline patches are no difficulty, but when additional memory space is needed the programmer must improvise. Naturally if the patch programmer is the one who first created the code to be patched, this is easier. Savvy programmers plan in advance for this need by reserving memory for later expansion, left unused when producing their final iteration. Other programmers not involved with the original implementation, seeking to incorporate changes at a later time, must find or make space for any additional bytes needed. The most fortunate possible circumstance for this is when the routine to be patched is a distinct module. In this case the patch programmer need merely adjust the pointers or length indicators that signal to other system components the space occupied by the module; he is then free to populate this memory space with his expanded patch code. If the routine to be patched does not exist as a distinct memory module, the programmer must find ways to shrink the routine to make enough room for the expanded patch code. Typical tactics include shortening code by finding more efficient sequences of instructions (or by redesigning with more efficient algorithms), compacting message strings and other data areas, externalizing program functions to mass storage (such as disk overlays), or removal of program features deemed less important than the changes to be installed with the patch. </p><p>Small in-memory machine code patches can be manually applied with the system debug utility, such as <a href="/facts/CP/M/n5rTgXdC">CP/M</a>'s DDT or <a href="/facts/MS-DOS/fVrrz1uN">MS-DOS</a>'s DEBUG debuggers. Programmers working in interpreted <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a> often used the POKE command to alter the functionality of a system service routine or the interpreter itself. </p> <h3>Source code patches</h3> <p>Patches can also circulate in the form of source code modifications. In this case, the patches usually consist of textual differences between two source code files, called "<a href="/facts/Diff/MtzRWwql">diffs</a>". These types of patches commonly come out of <a href="/facts/Open-source_software_project/tAMqzWxB">open-source software projects</a>. In these cases, developers expect users to compile the new or changed files themselves. </p> <h3>Large patches</h3> <p>Because the word "patch" carries the connotation of a small fix, large fixes may use different nomenclature. Bulky patches or patches that significantly change a program may circulate as "<a href="/facts/Service_pack/93y8YzCs">service packs</a>" or as "software updates". <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows_NT/EtccWvxQ">Microsoft Windows NT</a> and its successors (including <a href="/facts/Windows_2000/amJIt9gz">Windows 2000</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_XP/IozrkAYS">Windows XP</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_Vista/IASEUCTB">Windows Vista</a> and <a href="/facts/Windows_7/tldLdbnX">Windows 7</a>) use the "service pack" terminology.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Historically, <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a> used the terms "FixPaks" and "Corrective Service Diskette" to refer to these updates.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Historically, software suppliers distributed patches on <a href="/facts/Paper_tape/8HI7dThI">paper tape</a> or on <a href="/facts/Punched_cards/44WsPulQ">punched cards</a>, expecting the recipient to cut out the indicated part of the original tape (or deck), and patch in (hence the name) the replacement segment. Later patch distributions used magnetic tape. Then, after the invention of removable disk drives, patches came from the software developer via a <a href="/facts/Floppy_disk/rShxfuxa">disk</a> or, later, <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROM</a> via <a href="/facts/Mail/qF0nv7t9">mail</a>. With widely available <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a> access, <a href="/facts/Download/qN7fWmyI">downloading</a> patches from the developer's <a href="/facts/Web_site/SAsjJnca">web site</a> or through automated software updates became often available to the end-users. Starting with Apple's <a href="/facts/Mac_OS_9/33QM3VqV">Mac OS 9</a> and Microsoft's <a href="/facts/Windows_ME/fjENFRNa">Windows ME</a>, PC operating systems gained the ability to get automatic software updates via the Internet. </p><p>Computer programs can often coordinate patches to update a target program. Automation simplifies the end-user's task – they need only to execute an update program, whereupon that program makes sure that updating the target takes place completely and correctly. Service packs for <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows_NT/EtccWvxQ">Microsoft Windows NT</a> and its successors and for many commercial software products adopt such automated strategies. </p><p>Some programs can update themselves via the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a> with very little or no intervention on the part of users. The maintenance of <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">server</a> software and of <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a> often takes place in this manner. In situations where system administrators control a number of computers, this sort of automation helps to maintain consistency. The application of security patches commonly occurs in this manner. </p><p>With the advent of larger storage media and higher Internet bandwidth, it became common to replace entire files (or even all of a program's files) rather than modifying existing files, especially for smaller programs. </p> <h2 id="application">Application</h2> <p>The size of patches may vary from a few <a href="/facts/Byte/BNHUp9Qq">bytes</a> to hundreds of <a href="/facts/Megabyte/RBF4XpWb">megabytes</a>; thus, more significant changes imply a larger size, though this also depends on whether the patch includes entire files or only the changed portion(s) of files. In particular, patches can become quite large when the changes add or replace non-program data, such as graphics and sounds files. Such situations commonly occur in the patching of <a href="/facts/Computer_game/vmTdNASJ">computer games</a>. Compared with the initial installation of software, patches usually do not take long to apply. </p><p>In the case of <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a> and <a href="/facts/Computer_server/dEaYFD7r">computer server</a> software, patches have the particularly important role of fixing security holes. Some critical patches involve issues with drivers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Patches may require prior application of other patches, or may require prior or concurrent updates of several independent software components. To facilitate updates, operating systems often provide automatic or semi-automatic updating facilities. Completely automatic updates have not succeeded in gaining widespread popularity in corporate computing environments, partly because of the aforementioned glitches, but also because administrators fear that software companies may gain unlimited control over their computers. <a href="/facts/Package_management_system/kEX4kx7g">Package management systems</a> can offer various degrees of patch automation. </p><p>Usage of completely automatic updates has become far more widespread in the consumer market, due largely to the fact that <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> added support for them[<i>when?</i>], and <a href="/facts/Windows_XP/IozrkAYS">Service Pack 2 of Windows XP</a> (available in 2004) enabled them by default. Cautious users, particularly system administrators, tend to put off applying patches until they can verify the stability of the fixes. Microsoft <a href="/facts/Windows_Server_Update_Services/Y8Bqz1ep">(W)SUS</a> supports this. In the cases of large patches or of significant changes, distributors often limit availability of patches to qualified developers as a <a href="/facts/Development_stage/z4Q4RElA">beta test</a>. </p><p>Applying patches to <a href="/facts/Firmware/62UVKIUK">firmware</a> poses special challenges, as it often involves the provisioning of totally new firmware images, rather than applying only the differences from the previous version. The patch usually consists of a firmware image in form of binary data, together with a supplier-provided special program that replaces the previous version with the new version; a <a href="/facts/Motherboard/GXB10heG">motherboard</a> <a href="/facts/BIOS/AYYPUogS">BIOS</a> update is an example of a common firmware patch. Any unexpected error or interruption during the update, such as a power outage, may render the motherboard unusable. It is possible for motherboard manufacturers to put safeguards in place to prevent serious damage; for example, the update procedure could make and keep a backup of the firmware to use in case it determines that the primary copy is corrupt (usually through the use of a <a href="/facts/Checksum/AqxQ0I8g">checksum</a>, such as a <a href="/facts/Cyclic_redundancy_check/u2exo4sv">CRC</a>). </p> <h2 id="video-games">Video games</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">Video games</a> receive patches to fix compatibility problems after their initial release just like any other software, but they can also be applied to change game rules or <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>. These patches may be prompted by the discovery of <a href="/facts/Exploit_(online_gaming)/zSgTn7QE">exploits</a> in the <a href="/facts/Multiplayer_video_game/8CC60Nwj">multiplayer</a> game experience that can be used to gain unfair advantages over other players. Extra features and gameplay tweaks can often be added. These kinds of patches are common in <a href="/facts/First-person_shooters/LQQX6yAw">first-person shooters</a> with <a href="/facts/Multiplayer_video_game/8CC60Nwj">multiplayer</a> capability, and in <a href="/facts/MMORPG/s6NMD8fC">MMORPGs</a>, which are typically very complex with large amounts of content, almost always rely heavily on patches following the initial release, where patches sometimes add new content and abilities available to players. Because the balance and fairness for all players of an MMORPG can be severely corrupted within a short amount of time by an exploit, servers of an MMORPG are sometimes taken down with short notice in order to apply a critical patch with a fix. </p><p>Companies sometimes release games knowing that they have bugs. <i><a href="/facts/Computer_Gaming_World/KKMYmFv7">Computer Gaming World</a></i>'s <a href="/facts/Scorpia_(journalist)/opt41oqr">Scorpia</a> in 1994 denounced "companies—too numerous to mention—who release shoddy product knowing they can get by with patches and upgrades, and who make '<i>pay</i>-testers of their customers".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="in-software-development">In software development</h2> <p>Patches sometimes become mandatory to fix problems with <a href="/facts/Library_(computer_science)/xRzL3P7q">libraries</a> or with portions of <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> for programs in frequent use or in maintenance. This commonly occurs on very large-scale software projects, but rarely in small-scale development. </p><p>In open-source projects, the authors commonly receive patches or many people publish patches that fix particular problems or add certain functionality, like support for local languages outside the project's locale. In an example from the early development of the <a href="/facts/Linux_kernel/dlkduHuA">Linux kernel</a> (noted for publishing its complete source code), <a href="/facts/Linus_Torvalds/EdDKP534">Linus Torvalds</a>, the original author, received hundreds of thousands of patches from many <a href="/facts/Programmer/WGTS1Jv9">programmers</a> to apply against his original version. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Apache_HTTP_Server/tcmWYYUq">Apache HTTP Server</a> originally evolved as a number of patches that <a href="/facts/Brian_Behlendorf/82FFu0RG">Brian Behlendorf</a> collated to improve <a href="/facts/NCSA_HTTPd/TGkGRAj9">NCSA HTTPd</a>, hence a name that implies that it is a collection of patches (<a href="/facts/Apache_HTTP_Server/tcmWYYUq">"a patchy server"</a>). The FAQ on the project's official site states that the name 'Apache' was chosen from respect for the Native American Indian tribe of <a href="/facts/Apache/lLKsj4HL">Apache</a>. However, the 'a patchy server' explanation was initially given on the project's website.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="variants">Variants</h2> <h3>Hotfix</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Hotfix/K10d8qco">Hotfix</a></p> <p>A hotfix or Quick Fix Engineering update (QFE update) is a single, cumulative package that includes information (often in the form of one or more files) that is used to address a problem in a software product (i.e., a software bug). Typically, hotfixes are made to address a specific customer situation. <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> once used this term but has stopped in favor of new terminology: General Distribution Release (GDR) and Limited Distribution Release (LDR). <a href="/facts/Blizzard_Entertainment/aK5GGcN7">Blizzard Entertainment</a>, however, defines a hotfix as "a change made to the game deemed critical enough that it cannot be held off until a regular content patch". </p> <h3>Point release</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Point_release/xU4YUVUb">Point release</a></p> <p>A point release is a <a href="/facts/Minor_release/RckRvWfQ">minor release</a> of a software project, especially one intended to fix bugs or do small cleanups rather than add significant <a href="/facts/Feature_(software_design)/9JRKJJxa">features</a>. Often, there are too many bugs to be fixed in a single major or minor release, creating a need for a point release. </p> <h3>Program temporary fix</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Program_temporary_fix/S8HRMUx5">Program temporary fix</a></p> <p>Program temporary fix or Product temporary fix (PTF), depending on date, is the standard <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a> terminology for a single bug fix, or group of fixes, distributed in a form ready to install for customers. A PTF was sometimes referred to as a “ZAP”.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Customers sometime explain the acronym in a tongue-in-cheek manner as <i>permanent temporary fix</i> or more practically <i>probably this fixes</i>, because they have the option to make the PTF a permanent part of the operating system if the patch fixes the problem. </p> <h3>Security patches</h3> <p>A <i>security patch</i> is a change applied to an asset to correct the weakness described by a vulnerability. This corrective action will prevent successful exploitation and remove or mitigate a threat's capability to exploit a specific vulnerability in an asset. Patch management is a part of <a href="/facts/Vulnerability_management/z1KXhvnp">vulnerability management</a> – the cyclical practice of identifying, classifying, remediating, and mitigating vulnerabilities. </p><p>Security patches are the primary method of fixing security vulnerabilities in software. Currently Microsoft releases its security patches once a month ("<a href="/facts/Patch_Tuesday/eYDXSLoA">patch Tuesday</a>"), and other operating systems and software projects have security teams dedicated to releasing the most reliable software patches as soon after a vulnerability announcement as possible. Security patches are closely tied to <a href="/facts/Responsible_disclosure/xojA0o75">responsible disclosure</a>. </p><p>These security patches are critical to ensure that business process does not get affected. In 2017, companies were struck by a ransomware called <a href="/facts/WannaCry_ransomware_attack/zIvlf4jn">WannaCry</a> which encrypts files in certain versions of <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> and demands a ransom via BitCoin. In response to this, Microsoft released a patch which stops the ransomware from running. </p> <h3>Service pack</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Service_pack/93y8YzCs">Service pack</a></p> <p>A service pack or SP or a feature pack (FP) comprises a collection of updates, fixes, or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package. Companies often release a service pack when the number of individual patches to a given program reaches a certain (arbitrary) limit, or the software release has shown to be stabilized with a limited number of remaining issues based on users' feedback and bug tracking such as <a href="/facts/Bugzilla/Inos49JP">Bugzilla</a>. In large software applications such as office suites, operating systems, database software, or network management, it is not uncommon to have a service pack issued within the first year or two of a product's release. Installing a service pack is easier and less error-prone than installing many individual patches, even more so when updating multiple computers over a network, where service packs are common. </p> <h3>Unofficial patches</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Unofficial_patch/CwquC8br">Unofficial patch</a></p> <p>An unofficial patch is a patch for a program written by a third party instead of the original <a href="/facts/Software_developer/WGTS1Jv9">developer</a>. Similar to an ordinary patch, it alleviates <a href="/facts/Software_bug/I1uSXySv">bugs</a> or shortcomings. Examples are security fixes by security specialists when an official patch by the software producers itself takes too long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Other examples are unofficial patches created by the <a href="/facts/Game_community/D4cucP5G">game community</a> of a <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">video game</a> which became unsupported.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h3>Monkey patches</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Monkey_patch/DEIgDszg">Monkey patch</a></p> <p><a href="/facts/Monkey_patch/DEIgDszg">Monkey patching</a> means extending or modifying a program locally (affecting only the running instance of the program). </p> <h2 id="hot-patching">Hot patching</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Dynamic_software_updating/QtR9Cx8a">Dynamic software updating</a></p> <p><i>Hot patching</i>, also known as <i>live patching</i> or <i>dynamic software updating</i>, is the application of patches without shutting down and restarting the system or the program concerned. This addresses problems related to unavailability of service provided by the system or the program.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> Method can be used to update <a href="/facts/Linux_kernel/dlkduHuA">Linux kernel</a> without stopping the system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> A patch that can be applied in this way is called a <i>hot patch</i> or a <i>live patch</i>. This is becoming a common practice in the mobile app space.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> Companies like <a href="/facts/Rollout.io/yw4zelro">Rollout.io</a> use <a href="/facts/Method_swizzling/DEIgDszg">method swizzling</a> to deliver hot patches to the iOS ecosystem.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Another method for hot-patching iOS apps is JSPatch.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p><p>Cloud providers often use hot patching to avoid downtime for customers when updating underlying infrastructure.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="slipstreaming">Slipstreaming</h2> <p>In computing, slipstreaming is the act of integrating patches (including <a href="/facts/Service_pack/93y8YzCs">service packs</a>) into the <a href="/facts/Installation_(computer_programs)/EQzPeYv2">installation</a> files of their original app, so that the result allows a direct installation of the updated app.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p><p>The nature of slipstreaming means that it involves an initial outlay of time and work, but can save a lot of time (and, by extension, money) in the long term. This is especially significant for administrators that are tasked with managing a large number of computers, where typical practice for installing an operating system on each computer would be to use the original media and then update each computer after the installation was complete. This would take a lot more time than starting with a more up-to-date (slipstreamed) source, and needing to download and install the few updates not included in the slipstreamed source. </p><p>However, not all patches can be applied in this fashion and one disadvantage is that if it is discovered that a certain patch is responsible for later problems, said patch cannot be removed without using an original, non-slipstreamed installation source. </p> <h2 id="software-update-systems">Software update systems</h2> <p class="note">See also: Category:Software update managers, <a href="/facts/Push_technology/KoRjtGET">Push technology</a>, <a href="/facts/Pull_technology/UglIWno4">Pull technology</a>, and <a href="/facts/Software_verification/PczD7lsh">Software verification</a></p> <p>Software update systems allow for updates to be managed by users and software developers. In the <a href="/facts/Petya_(malware)/Mp5nXSk6">2017 Petya cyberpandemic</a>, the financial software "MeDoc"'s update system is said to have been compromised to spread <a href="/facts/Malware/5ee7TLFR">malware</a> via its updates.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> On the Tor Blog, cybersecurity expert Mike Perry states that <a href="/facts/Deterministic_compilation/dIScUkPC">deterministic</a>, distributed builds are likely the only way to defend against malware that attacks the software development and <a href="/facts/Software_build/uTz1koQy">build</a> processes to infect millions of machines in a single, officially signed, instantaneous update.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> Update managers also allow for security updates to be applied quickly and widely. Update managers of <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a> such as <a href="/facts/Synaptic_(software)/3QdFfJxw">Synaptic</a> allow users to update all software installed on their machine. Applications like Synaptic use cryptographic checksums to verify source/local files before they are applied to ensure fidelity against malware.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="malicious-updates">Malicious updates</h2> <p>Some <a href="/facts/Hacker/bhg519lj">hacker</a> may compromise legitimate software update channel and inject <a href="/facts/Malicious_code/5ee7TLFR">malicious code</a>. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Software_release_life_cycle/z4Q4RElA">Software release life cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Software_maintenance/Uv39zQb0">Software maintenance</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Backporting/tyMsA9LN">Backporting</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Dribbleware/yczAkJja">Dribbleware</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Patch_(Unix)/9tFn5GeU">Patch (Unix)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Porting/7s6tFs8B">Porting</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Vulnerability_database/jrKwI7xj">Vulnerability database</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Delta_encoding/2NQlyAUc">Delta encoding</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/SMP/E/awfjnzIa">SMP/E</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Automatic_bug_fixing/VoGYgrGf">Automatic bug fixing</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Shavlik_Technologies/7gU1bfe7">Shavlik Technologies</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/White_hat_(computer_security)/yPX3oYsF">White hat (computer security)</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/P/patch.html"><i>The Jargon File</i> entry for <i>patch</i></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160603230400/http://singe.za.net/blog/archives/763-Limiting-Vulnerability-Exposure-through-effective-Patch-Management-a-thesis.html">A detailed masters dissertation dealing with security patches</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.17/process/submitting-patches.html#the-canonical-patch-format">Official Linux kernel patch format</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.techzoom.net/publications/0-day-patch">0-Day Patch – Exposing Vendors (In)security Performance</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140131144456/http://www.techzoom.net/publications/0-day-patch/">Archived</a> 2014-01-31 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a>. A metric comparing patch performance of Microsoft and Apple.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Microsoft issues biggest software patch on record". Reuters. 2009-10-14. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091016074048/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C28348%2C26208289-5014239%2C00.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20091016074048/http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0%2C28348%2C26208289-5014239%2C00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"What is a Bug Fix? – Definition from Techopedia". techopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. 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