The monthly advance notification -- where Microsoft alerts customers of the number of overall security patches and updates, as well as what products they will affect -- was several hours late in reaching users.

Microsoft usually issues its advance alert at around 1 p.m. ET, but unspecified problems with the distribution system delayed its release for nearly three hours.

The 17 updates will be released at approximately 1 p.m. ET on April 12.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at or subscribe to . His e-mail address is .

in Computerworld's Security Topic Center.