Microsoft has patched a bug that went undetected for 19 years.
The security hole was discovered in May by IBM researchers, who then teamed up with Microsoft to fix it before publicly releasing its existence, BBC News reported Wednesday. The Windows bug, dubbed WinShock, could be used to remotely run code on a computer if the user views a malicious webpage via Internet Explorer. Once a machine would be infected, the attacker could control it remotely.
The flaw affected every version of Microsoft’s desktop OS since Windows 95.
Revelation of a 19-year-old bug that needed to be squashed shows that major flaws in software can stay hidden for years. This reveals basic vulnerabilities in PC technology. For one, it’s up to users to apply patches to keep their machines secure. Yet security-conscious users can still be at risk for malware infections if a particular bug goes unnoticed and unpatched by the powers that be…Read More
Source and Original Content by Yahoonews