Microsoft’s Vista Unfolds More Vulnerability

Computer security researchers and hackers have come across more vulnerability in Microsoft's Vista that has long wanted update to the Windows operating system.

Microsoft's new Vista is acclaimed for enhanced security that makes one of its principal selling points. Yet, researchers are hitting upon potential security flaws, as per a report in The New York Times on December 25, 2006. The company is receiving reports from public that claim the existence of security flaws in its new Vista operating system. Security experts and hackers have drawn the attention of people to many apparent security lapses that could infect a user's computer while hooked on the Web.

According to the report, 'Determina' a computer security company in Silicon Valley informed Microsoft about six vulnerabilities it found over the weekend. One of them is the same as that discovered by a Russian programmer in mid-December. The flaw allows increasing users' privileges on the new Vista operating system.

Determina also identified an error in Microsoft's new Internet Explorer 7 Web browser code. The flaw is troublesome essentially because when users just visit certain sites on the browser they can infect their computers with malicious software. Citing executives at Determina the report said it would allow an attacker to plant rogue software into the Vista-based personal computer. Determina makes software to protect systems against vulnerability.

Microsoft's new operating system, the first update to Windows in five years is of significant importance to the world's most gigantic software company. Companies like Google have been competing with Microsoft by offering Web-based applications that pose stiff rivalry against traditional desktop software.

Microsoft is closely watching the situation and said that so far there has been no security breach with the much talked about Vista system. A Microsoft spokeswoman, Nicole Miller said the company was investigating the apparent browser flaw while it has still no indications of any attack trying to exploit the vulnerability.

The computer industry is waiting to see any change before it decides whether or not Vista will have a long-term problem with security. Meanwhile, some security experts claim that there would be bugs emerging during the next six months.

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» SPAMfighter News - 12/29/2006