Bonn, Germany- Users of the Windows operating system should take advantage of a newly released update that plugs security holes in the system. The vulnerability can be exploited to launch malicious software on a computer, warns the German Federal Agency for Security in Information Technology (BSI) in Bonn. It can also cause the computer to crash or to allow the intruder to gain administrator rights.
One of the security holes initiates its attack using specially prepared websites. If the user calls up the manipulated page, then the website's author can gain control of the computer. The other two vulnerabilities can allow already registered users to expand their system rights or implement what are known as "denial-of-service" attacks which bombard a server with requests until it becomes paralysed.
Windows users are therefore advised to install the latest updates ASAP to close the holes. They can be downloaded at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. If the "Automatic Updates" Windows component has been activated, then the update will install itself automatically.
