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WASHINGTON (AP) - Just moments before a top Microsoft executive told Congress about efforts to improve security, the company warned customers Wednesday of serious new flaws that leave its flagship Windows software vulnerable to Internet attacks remarkably similar to the Blaster virus that infected hundreds of millions of computers last month. Microsoft urged customers to immediately apply a free repairing patch from its Web site, www.microsoft.com. It cautioned that hackers could seize complete control over a victim's computer by attacking these flaws, which affects Windows technology that allows computers to communicate with others across a network. Outside experts said the...

Microsoft warns of critical flaws in Internet Explorer Flaws could enable attacker to take control of user's computer AUGUST 21, 2003 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. released a patch for a number of flaws in its Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser yesterday, including two it rated "critical" for some versions of the browser, which could enable an attacker to take control of a user's computer. The company also released a patch for a flaw, rated "important," in the MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components) element of its Windows operating systems. The critical flaws affect IE Versions 5.01, 5.5, 6.0...