Internet Users Warned of Serious Computer Security Hole

Microsoft Corp. has taken the rare step of warning about a serious computer security vulnerability it hasn't fixed yet.

The vulnerability disclosed Monday affects Internet Explorer users whose computers run the Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating software.

It can allow hackers to remotely take control of victims' machines. The victims don't need to do anything to get infected except visit a Web site that's been hacked.

Security experts say criminals have been attacking the vulnerability for nearly a week. Thousands of sites have been hacked to serve up malicious software that exploits the vulnerability. People are drawn to these sites by clicking a link in spam e-mail.

The so-called ``zero day'' vulnerability disclosed by Microsoft affects a part of its software used to play video. The problem arises from the way the software interacts with Internet Explorer, which opens a hole for hackers to tunnel into.

Microsoft urged vulnerable users to disable the problematic part of its software, which can be done from Microsoft's Web site, while the company works on a ``patch'' _ or software fix _ for the problem.

Microsoft rarely departs from its practice of issuing security updates the second Tuesday of each month. When the Redmond, Washington-based company does issue security reminders at other times, it's because the vulnerabilities are very serious.

A recent example was the emergency patch Microsoft issued in October for a vulnerability that criminals exploited to infect millions of PCs with the Conficker worm. While initially feared as an all-powerful doomsday device, that network of infected machines was eventually used for mundane moneymaking schemes like sending spam and pushing fake antivirus software.

Agencies

White House network hacked

Chinese hackers have penetrated the White House computer network on multiple occasions, and obtained e-mails between government officials, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, quoting a senior US official.

The cyber attackers managed to penetrate the White House system for brief periods that allowed them to steal information before US government experts each time patched the system, the newspaper reported the official as saying.

The official told the newspaper that US was getting very targeted Chinese attacks so its stretches credulity that these are not directed by government-related organizations.

The US has increased efforts to tackle cyber security in the past year, especially since Chinese hackers penetrated the Pentagon last year, Financial Times said.

In that attack the hackers had obtained e-mails from the system serving Robert Gates, the defence secretary.

While the US has raised concerns about cyber attacks, many foreign governments believe the US is also engaged in electronic spying, the newspaper said. Bob Woodward, the Washington Post reporter had revealed that the US had been spying on the Iraqi government.