Microsoft boosts security as Flame virus exploits Windows bug

Microsoft lately revealed how the Windows bug allows the Flame virus to infect a system in the disguise of a genuine Microsoft program, and the company also released a software fix. However, this has made Microsoft cautious and it is taking measures to strengthen the security of the Windows program to help its users safeguard their PCs and also update software. Microsoft Security Response Center’s Senior Director Mike Reavey revealed in a blog post that the company now plans to boost its security measures on the Windows update software.

Microsoft boosts security... (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Though Microsoft has released software to fix the bug through its Windows Update system, security experts believe that systems that are infected with advanced viruses many not really benefit from the software update. The reason for this is that the malicious program may have disabled Windows update by now. Hence, Microsoft plans to boost its security further. "If Microsoft is going to 'harden' the update feature, they must also prevent writers of malicious software from disabling the updating process on local computers," said John Bumgarner, Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit, a non-profit think tank that studies the impact of cyber warfare.

The Flame virus was identified only recently by the Kaspersky Labs. The virus is capable of copying whatever you enter on the keyboard and view on the computer screen. On infecting a system, Flame begins with its set of complex operations, which is inclusive of sniffing the network traffic, taking screenshots, recording audio conversations, intercepting the keyboard, and even monitoring the display. The information is then sent to a network of command-and-control servers located in many different parts of the world. Earlier, there had been attacks like Stuxnet and Duqu, but the Flame virus is said to be 20 times larger than Stuxnet and most sophisticated and powerful attack ever. This attack is also believed to be a government funded one and the United Nations has also issued warnings to its member nations about the threat from the Flame virus.