Date:30/12/2010 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2010/12/30/stories/2010123050141400.htm
Sci Tech
Serious flaw in Internet Browser
Microsoft has warned about a flaw on the Internet Explorer browser that could
allow hackers to take control of unprotected computers.
The bug allows hackers to inject malware onto any system if they manage to
trick users into visiting booby-trapped websites. Anyone with Internet Explorer
(IE) 6 to 8 is potentially affected.
The code to exploit the bug has already been published. The computer giant said
there was no evidence it was being used yet by criminals but they were
"investigating"
and working on a permanent fix, reports the Daily Mail.
The bug targets how the browser manages a computer's memory when it is
processing Cascade Style Sheets - which are design instructions that determine
how
most web pages look.
Hackers can inject their own code into the stream of instructions and in this
way hijack the PC.
Although Microsoft has improved how memory management is protected, it does not
work when some older parts of Windows are called on.
The bug first came to light on the seclists.org full disclosure mailing list
earlier this month. - IANS
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