In with the new doesn't necessarily mean out with the old, though - this year has already seen widespread confusion over yet another bungled Microsoft patching cycle.

Controversy has arisen over the software giant's ability to secure its Windows operating system, following news of a vulnerability in its Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft makes its patches available according to a monthly schedule, and the update that was released this week has left users vulnerable to a threat that experts had been aware of since 27 December.