An increase in attacks exploiting a recent vulnerability in LNK files in the Windows operating system, sparked the creation and imminent release of an out of band patch to protect PCs running Windows from those attacks.
Until now, only workarounds were available to protect Windows systems from those attacks. This included a Microsoft Fix-IT solution, third party software to detect and block malicious LNK files, and a Stuxnet Rootkit Remover to clean infected computer systems from common Stuxnet variants.
Security software, like Microsoft Security Essentials offer protection against known attack forms as well.
lnk stuxnet attacks
The increase in attacks however made it necessary to patch the security vulnerability, so that attacks and exploits of the vulnerability become useless on patched systems.
The security patch has “achieved the appropriate quality bar for broad distribution to customers”, according to a blog post at the Microsoft Security Response Center.
The attacks are currently spreading mainly in a handful of countries, including Brazil and the United States
stuxnet attacks
The out of band security patch will be released on Monday, August 2, 2010 at or around 10 AM PDT. Additional information about exploitation of the vulnerability is available at this Technet blog post.
Computer users should look out for the security patch on August 2. It will be distributed through Windows Update, Microsoft Download and other official channels.
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Hi Martin, good post as always. But I have one gripe with you. A lot of the posts on GHacks lately have been plagued with too many spelling and grammatical mistakes and it really hurts the eye.You should really give some serious thought to moderating the articles posted here for spelling mistakes. I think the post title should really be “Expect” out of band … and not “Except” out of band… Also it should be ‘imminent’ and not ‘immanent’.
Sorry for nitricking but I’ve been reading your blog since when you were the sole contributor and I’d appreciate it if you could maintain the quality which I amd many others have come to expect from you. Such mistakes could drive away first time visitors to ghacks.net. This is one of my favourite blogs btw.
P.S.- Thanks for the headsup on the security release coming up.
Hi,
thanks for sharing your opinion, I try to pay more attention to that in future posts.
You do not spell and amd as you did in your post. (the quality which I amd..)
So Martin do not feel too bad!