Just moments before a top Microsoft executive told Cong-ress about efforts to improve security, the company warned customers Wednesday of serious new flaws that leave its flagship Windows software vulnerable to Internet attacks.
Microsoft warned the Internet attacks could be remarkably similar to the Blaster virus that infected hundreds of millions of computers last month.
Microsoft urged customers to immediately apply a free repairing patch from its Web site, www.microsoft.com. It cautioned that hackers could seize complete control over a victim's computer by attacking these flaws, which affect Windows technology that allows computers to communicate with others across a network.
Outside experts said the new flaws were nearly identical to problems that were exploited by the so-called Blaster infection, which spread last month with devastating damage. Computer users who applied an earlier patch in July to protect themselves still must install the new patch from Microsoft.
"They're as close as you can be without being the same," said Marc Maiffret, an executive at eEye Digital Security Inc in California, one of three research groups credited with discovering the new problems. "It's definitely a big oversight on Microsoft's part that they missed these."
The embarrassing disclosure by Microsoft came just moments before its senior security strategist, Phil Reitinger, told lawmakers on the House Government Reform technology subcommittee about the company's efforts to help consumers defend themselves against viruses and other Internet attacks.
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