Microsoft patches a critical Windows XP security flaw

DEVELOPER OF INSECURE SOFTWARE Microsoft has revealed the scale of the threat posed to Windows XP by a recent security vulnerability.

As The INQUIRER reported, the threat leaves Windows XP and 2003 users wide open to attackers invoking commands by using the wscript.shell object. Finally Microsoft released a patch to address the problem, but not before the vulnerability has resulted in at least 25,000 computers being attacked.

According to the Vole's figures, the rate of attacks is rising steadily, and machines located in the UK have recently been subjected to a surge in attacks. While Brits may have been targeted lately, we lag some way behind Russia and Portugal.

These figures might not represent the full picture as Microsoft is publishing figures only from machines that run its own security software. Given the numerous security packages available to consumers, it is highly likely that the number of attacks on computers running Windows XP and 2003 is higher.

The Vole is urging its Windows XP and 2003 users to apply its critical update, which should plaster over the broken security model of its operating systems, at least until the next vulnerability is discovered and exploited. µ