News last week that Microsoft was readying a CD containing all its security patches to be distributed free to anyone that requests it has provoked a flurry of interest from consumers, particularly those without broadband pipes capable of downloading sizeable patches.

So, has the Redmond giant underestimated dial-up demand from the security-conscious?

One silicon.com reader, Stephen Laux, certainly thinks so and believes the security CD is "way overdue". He told silicon.com: "I think Microsoft has pretty much ignored the dial up users until this CD. I'm glad to see they are finally recognising the fact that not everyone has broadband."

According to recent figures from the Office of National Statistics, the number of broadband users is rising, but it still accounts for just 22.5 per cent of all connections – leaving nearly three-quarters of all users dealing with a lengthy download cycle.

By Jo Best at Silicon.

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