SEATTLE -- Microsoft released a patch for its latest "critical" rated security flaw affecting its Windows, Office and developer tools software programs, the company said Tuesday.

Microsoft, which now releases security bulletins and updates on a monthly cycle, said that its latest software flaw stems from the way its software processes images in the JPEG format.

Users opening a file or viewing a specific image could be at risk if a hacker exploits the flaw and tries to gain access to a personal computer.

"The vulnerability could only be exploited by an attacker who persuaded a user to open a specially crafted file or to view a directory that contains the specially crafted image," Microsoft said in a statement. "There is no way for an attacker to force a user to open a malicious file."

Read more here: http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,64959,00.html

Get patched here: http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

I mentioned this the other night here...

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17246

According to Martin S if you've got service pack 2 for XP you don't need to worry..probably best to check though.

Originally posted by threecolours
I mentioned this the other night here...

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17246

According to Martin S if you've got service pack 2 for XP you don't need to worry..probably best to check though.
That was taken directly from the microsoft security bulletin...

All in all it never hurts to run windows update and be absolutely sure though..

Oh and office update too.. as office 2003 and associated appications, eg: visio are affected..

Just as an update... the issue of the JPEG virus is being debated on this thread as well...

I've posted a link with a bit more info on there so ref:
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?postid=171448#post171448

Oops didn't check the Ask An Expert section coz I wouldn't have thought anyone would be asking a question about it.

I've looked at the source and it's a clever piece of code. Yet another major flaw in Windows.

Originally posted by J-Blaze
Oops didn't check the Ask An Expert section coz I wouldn't have thought anyone would be asking a question about it.

I've looked at the source and it's a clever piece of code. Yet another major flaw in Windows.

S'Ok - I did tuck my question away in a thread about something else anyway!