Microsoft Releases Updates For Better Security

Patches released by Microsoft fix crucial vulnerabilities in IE and Windows. Two of the released patches fix crucial flaws that are being exploited actively to infect the Windows users over Internet. This fact is being used to encourage the users to download and apply the released updates as early as possible.

The company stated that the 5 crucial updates take care of the flaws that could permit attackers to get remote control of users' systems.

3 of the crucial updates affect Windows XP, the recent edition of the Microsoft's OS. The 4th update affects the IE and Windows 2000 and is not considered as a big threat to users operating Windows XP. The 5th update impact XML Core Services of Microsoft. Software developers employ these services in designing certain applications.

Microsoft rated its 6th update as a critical patch for both the Windows XP and 2000 users. The company rated it as a moderate risk for its Windows Server 2003 software users.

Microsoft's Windows OS operates on 90% of the computers in the world. It has issued the security patches as a part of its security bulletin, which is a monthly bulletin.

Microsoft rates a flaw "critical" when the susceptibility could permit a destructive net worm to duplicate when the user is not doing anything to system.

As per the analysis of Symantec Corp., a security firm, the most dreaded vulnerability in November batch is a loophole in the Workstation Service Memory of Microsoft. The flaw can be implemented from a remote location and let hackers to completely control the compromised machine to install programs, create new accounts and to see, alter or delete the data.

Symantec, in its advisory, said, "Successful exploitation of this susceptibility could lead to the complete compromise of the system. Distant anonymous hackers can exploit this problem on Windows 2000, XP and probably on Windows Server 2003 systems. This problem impacts a huge range of services and component technologies".

Microsoft has been working hard for over 3 years to improve its software's safety and reliability as increasing number of malevolent software aim vulnerabilities in Windows and its other software. The recent patches can be taken from the Website of Microsoft.

Related article: Microsoft Patches Live OneCare to Tackle Quarantined E-Mails

» SPAMfighter News - 11/17/2006