Microsoft says it will deliver six security updates Tuesday, less than half the number it issued last month, to fix flaws in Windows and Office.

The updates will patch a total of 15 separate vulnerabilities, Microsoft said in a follow-up entry to its security response center's blog.

"Six is the lucky number this month," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Network Security. "Really, anything less than 13 is a lucky number."

Last month, Microsoft released 13 updates that patched 34 vulnerabilities, both records since the company started shipping monthly updates more than six years ago.

The six slated for next week, however, tie the record for the most issued in November, traditionally a light month for Microsoft updates. In November 2006, the company also delivered a half-dozen security updates. In 2007 and 2008, however, it shipped just two each year in November, while it released only one in 2005.

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