Security news
Security news13 July 2005
Microsoft issues three new critical security patches, Sophos urges computer users to apply updates
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| Microsoft has issued three critical security updates. |
Microsoft has issued three important security updates yesterday. Rated as "critical" - Microsoft's highest level of severity - the security vulnerabilities allow remote code execution, meaning that an attacker can achieve complete control of the affected PC.
The software giant lists the affected software as Office, Windows, JView Profiler and Internet Explorer.
"Microsoft customers would be wise to apply the patches as soon as possible," said Carole Theriault, security consultant for Sophos. "We are seeing a growing number of threats designed either to use system resources to send out spam or to steal sensitive information kept on the system. Failing to patch against such vulnerabilities is comparable to leaving the door wide open to unwanted guests."
Home users of Microsoft Windows can visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com to have their systems scanned for critical Microsoft security vulnerabilities.
Sophos recommends that every IT manager responsible for security should consider subscribing to vulnerability mailing lists such as that operated by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/notify.mspx.
Sophos continues to recommend companies protect their desktops and servers with automatically updated anti-virus protection.
