MICROSOFT Corporation has taken the unusual step of warning about a serious computer security problem it has not yet been able to repair. The vulnerability announced late Monday affects Internet Explorer users whose computers run the Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating software. The security gap allows hackers to remotely take control of victims' computers. Victims can get infected by visiting a website that has been hacked. Security experts said criminals have been attacking the vulnerability for almost a week. Thousands of sites have been hacked to distribute malicious software (malware) that exploits the vulnerability. Victims are attracted to such websites by clicking a link in spam e-mail. MICROSOFT urged vulnerable users to disable the problematic part of its software, which can be done from Microsoft's website, while the world's biggest software maker works on a “patch”—or software repair—for the problem.
