Microsoft warns of worm infestation

Microsoft has urged Windows users to apply an emergency patch to protect computers from the Conficker.A worm that has infected corporate and home networks in Europe, Japan, China and Brazil.

Conficker.A takes advantage of a known vulnerability which, if successfully exploited, could activate remotely when users are sharing files.

Applying Microsoft’s emergency patch MS08-067, which was issued in late October, will secure computers from the worm.

"Recently we've received a string of reports from customers who have yet to apply the update and are infected by malware," Microsoft's Bill Sisk wrote on the Microsoft Security Response Center blog.

Most security patches are released on the first Tuesday of every month, known as Patch Tuesday and are automatically installed on networked computers.

Microsoft also published research this week on 'cyberchondria' the practice of self-diagnosing from web searches.

Check out Web User's guide to essential security software on the net.

www.microsoft.com/security


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