Microsoft's Michael Jackson problem: Redmond issues an alert
Filed under: Company News, Technology
More recently, cyber criminals have been sending out an email, with the subject line 'Remembering Michael Jackson.' The email goes on to say that there is an attachment; a file containing secret songs and photos of Jackson. But when you open the file, a worm infiltrates your computer and it then spreads on to other Internet users.
The company said that if you use its Internet Explorer browser on a computer operating on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, hackers have the ability to take control. You get infected simply by visiting a Web site that has been hacked.
While Microsoft just learned about this, apparently criminals have been taking advantage of the vulnerability for a week -- serving up their malicious software on some 1,000 Websites, which then exploit a vulnerability in Microsoft's software which is used to play video over the Internet. The criminals send you spam email that provides a link. Click on it, and you are transported to the infected Website and a hole is opened to the contents of your computer.
While Microsoft develops a "patch" the company says that for now, you can safeguard your computer and your business by disabling part of its software, which is explained in its security advisory. The company has made a practice of issuing security updates the second Tuesday of each month. So when the company can't wait until Tuesday, it's serious.
You have to give Microsoft credit. By being upfront, the company should develop more trust with its users. That is something Microsoft could use. According to StatCounter GlobalStats, Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7 have been losing market share over the past year, while other browsers, including Firefox, have been gaining.
Nikhil Hutheesing is an editor at Dailyfinance.com. You can follow him on Twitter at Nikhil212
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-07-2009 @ 9:13AM
Cathy said...
we, taxpayers, need to take back the economy from Congress and take some of their power away. Join endthefed.us and join FairTax.org!
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7-07-2009 @ 11:01AM
hemipwr54 said...
Well must be real serious for Micro$oft to issue a statement , still not switching to Vista or Windows 7 .
Try Linux , you might just like it !
Reply
7-07-2009 @ 3:04PM
bob said...
Sort of amazing that there is no other product as poorly designed as Microsoft's, yet they have no liability for it. Can you imagine buying a car and having the equivalent defects in it? What Obama needs to do is appoint a computer Czar, and start the process of rebuilding the architecture, codes, etc. and getting away from windows.
Or get smart and buy an Apple.
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7-07-2009 @ 3:58PM
jgeorgsen said...
If microsoft does'nt get its house in order . They will be the next auto industry crisis .
Reply
7-07-2009 @ 4:21PM
zac said...
Subject: H.R. 1388 was passed
Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U. S. needs to know....
Something happened... H. R. 1388 was passed yesterday, behind our backs. You may want to read about it. It wasn't mentioned on the news... just went by on the ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA. This is the news that didn't make the headlines...
By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza.
The "presidential determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on January 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on February 4.
Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media, took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement(Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
Let's review... itemized list of some of Barack Obama's most recent actions since his inauguration:
His first call to any head of state, as president, was to Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah party in the Palestinian territory.
His first one-on-one television interview with any news organization was with Al Arabia television.
His first executive order was to fund/facilitate abortion(s) not just here within the U.S., but within the world, using U.S. tax payer funds.
He ordered Guantanamo Bay closed and all military trials of detainees halted.
He ordered overseas CIA interrogation centers closed.
He withdrew all charges against the masterminds behind the USS Cole and the "terror attack" on 9/11.
Now we learn that he is allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees to move to, and live in, the US at American taxpayer expense.
These important, and insightful, issues are being "lost" in the blinding bail-outs and "stimulation" packages.
Doubtful? To verify this for yourself: http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488
PLEASE PASS THIS ON... AMERICA NEEDS TO KNOW
WE are losing this country at a rapid pace.
He is pushing this Socialist Agenda. ...
(OBAMADECEPTION.NET) OBAMAGEDDON! !
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