A new virus sent through peer-to-peer file-sharing websites has exposed new security holes in Microsoft Corp’s Windows Vista operating system, report said on Friday.
Based on the report, the new security hole can be exploited through the flaw in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol of Windows file and printer sharing. Server 2008 computer users should also look into the said security gap following several complaints by people that their system has been attack by bugs after downloading the infected file in P2P websites.
Microsoft, on the other hand, advised that customers to always have the firewalls turned on to avoid or to block attempts of the virus to reach ports that the SMB protocol use.These two ports are the 139 and 445.
The software giant also suggested that Windows Vista and Server 2008 users should monitor the company website for security updates regarding the said problem.
However, as of posting time, no security patch has been made available by the company for the security hole.
Earlier, Microsoft has released a monthly security patch update for its Window Media Player and other Active Template Library software, along with the ActiveX patch, which is critical users who are using Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 SP4, and Windows Vista.
In a related development, a computer security expert said that the virus acquired through the P2P file-sharing websites could have been prevented if only the users updated their web browsers consistently.
He said that latest versions of web browsers can now be used by people who want to get rid of the headache of having security threat in their OS.
Last month, new versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari made their debut in the market. The updated web browsers were reportedly safer and faster that their predecessors.