Microsoft issues ‘critical’ warning over PC security

MICROSOFT Corporation has issued a warning that flaws in its operating system could let an attacker take complete control over a computer system.

The “critical” security flaws, the company’s highest threat level, affect Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Windows users are being urged to download the latest security updates from Microsoft to fix the flaws.

The software giant has warned that three loopholes affecting Windows and Internet Explorer allow an attacker to take control of a personal computer.

Seven other updates have also been released to address less serious problems in its software.

Microsoft has been trying hard to improve the security of its software, releasing regular monthly security bulletins.

Some of the flaws affect computers with operating systems dating back to Windows 98.

In a statement, Microsoft said: “Vulnerabilities exist in Internet Explorer. The most severe of these could allow an attacker to take complete control of an affected system.”

Last week, Microsoft first alerted the millions of Windows users that it was planning to release a bumper pack of ‘patches’ to fix the system’s flaws.

“For all consumers we recommend that they have Automatic Updates enabled,” said Stephen Toulouse from Microsoft’s Security Response Centre. This is a feature in Windows that downloads the software patches automatically onto computers.

Computer users can also access the fixes manually from Microsoft security website.

The most serious flaws affect Windows and Internet Explorer and could be exploited by a malicious hacker to take over a computer system. The other patches affect Windows, the Exchange server system, services for the Unix operating system, Microsoft’s Interactive Training software for Windows, and ISA server, a network firewall programme.

Last month, Microsoft announced plans to offer its own anti-virus and security updates for home computers, called Windows OneCare.

The service would be on a yearly subscription basis, just like other anti-virus protection services.

It is currently being tested by the Microsoft employees before a trial release for the rest of the world later this year.

Although Microsoft already offers security features in its software for free, it recently bought anti-virus technology to help beef up security.