Windows Warning

Code to exploit Windows graphics flaw now public | CNET News.com: "Code to exploit Windows graphics flaw now public

A sample program hit the Internet on Wednesday, showing by example how malicious coders could compromise Windows computers by using a flaw in the handling of a widespread graphics format by Microsoft's software.

Security professionals expect the release of the program to herald a new round of attacks by viruses and Trojan horses incorporating the code to circumvent security on Windows computers that have not been updated. The flaw, in the way Microsoft's software processes JPEG graphics, could allow a program to take control of a victim's computer when the user opens a JPEG file."

Also, note this:

"Microsoft: To secure IE, upgrade to XP

If you're one of about 200 million people using older versions of Windows and you want the latest security enhancements to Internet Explorer, get your credit card ready.

Microsoft this week reiterated that it would keep the new version of Microsoft's IE Web browser available only as part of the recently released Windows XP operating system, Service Pack 2. The upgrade to XP from any previous Windows versions is $99 when ordered from Microsoft. Starting from scratch, the operating system costs $199."

That means if you're using Internet Explorer on Windows 98 or Windows Me, no more browser updates for you. No more patches against the many exploits that can take control of your computer or just make pests of themselves through IE; no more updates to keep pace with the development of Web standards (i.e., pages are going to start looking funny to you after a while).

So if you don't have Windows XP or a Mac, now would be an especially good time to download the Mozilla Firefox browser.