Users of Microsoft products have been issued a message in advance of its October patch to highlight 11 current problems that will be addressed.

Four of these updates have been classed as critical and will address problems found with the Windows operating system, Microsoft Excel, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Host Integration Server.

All four flaws can allow a remotely executable code to be used by an attacker to gain access to a person's computer, leaving many open to losing personal details or company information, in the case of unprotected enterprise businesses.

The Internet Explorer flaw affects all operating systems since Windows 2000.

Furthermore, another six flaws have been classed as important, including three which address privilege issues and another three which, like the critical errors, help defend users against remote code execution.

It was revealed this week that Microsoft had raised its sales forecast for the Xbox 360 gaming console after beating the Sony PlayStation 3 to the top spot of the Japanese charts.

A recent Connect survey found that the two major concerns about outsourcing services like IT support were 'loss of control' (56 per cent) and 'budget over-runs' (43 per cent)