Info:
http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/03/technology/windows_virusthreat/index.htm?cnn=yes
http://it.slashdot.org/it/05/12/30/1310243.shtml?tid=220

You can grab a patch here:
http://www.hexblog.com/

SANS has verified that this patch is valid and does only what it says it does, nothing more.

Also, as Microsoft and other security firms have suggested, "Click Start, click Run, type "regsvr32 -u %windir%\system32\shimgvw.dll" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK." This will de-register the vulnerable DLL.

I was actually hit by this vulnerability earlier today while browsing. All you need to do is browse to a malicious website and you can be infected with whatever payload the variant author decides. I suggest that everyone install this hotfix as soon as possible.

Update on this, as of 2pm today Microsoft is releasing a security update. You can download the patch here.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/ms06-001.mspx

Thanks both for the info.

Man, I wish I didn't have a PC. I really respect Gates/Microsoft, because they obviously make the most popular machines, but man, Macs are just so much more reliable. No time wasted downloading security updates, etc. *sigh*

PSSST, Microsoft doesn't make PC's, they build operating systems/software...

Linux is another, quite secure, alternative to Windows.

Here it comes : is windows really less secure than linux or is it just that windows is expoited more because people don't like microshaft?

I didn't say it WAS more secure, I said that it WAS a secure ALTERNATIVE...

Here is an interesting article about the security in 2005 overall in regards to operatin systems

Over 5,000 bugs in 2005

All operating systems have flaws, bugs, and exploits. The only reason why you are more apt to hear about a Microsoft bug then a Mac or Linux bug is ofcourse they are the big guys. Macs have just as much spyware, keyloggers, and security holes as Windows, and lets not forget their crappy iPods that break randomly (working at a studio, I've seen more then a few being shipped back to Macintosh because they just "stopped" working). Not having to download security patches... cracker please. Take that Bono!

The truth of the matter is any operating system can be made secure or become the virus laced whore of Babylon. True, Windows isn't 100% secure out of the box, but what isn't. A little tweaking, knowledge of the OS and some elbow grease can make it run a whole lot better. No computer OS is 100% (except if it doesn't connect ANY network or Internet and doesn't have a floppy drive) so just quit your bitchin!

Oh yeah and to rub salt in teh wounds...
http://www.flurl.com/uploaded/Why_Macs_Suck_15109.html

Man up and get a real computer and a real operating system. Get a copy of Windows XP Pro (and tweak out the registry), Linux (and tweak it out too), or my favorite OpenVMS (considered to be "Unhackable" at Def Con9).

This has been a public service announcement
by me, thank you, bitches

um, ok, uh you're welcome I guess.

I guess I can see your point, defcon, but from my knowledge, MACs are just that much better than PCs. I don't know anyone who owns a MAC that has ever had spyware or any other such virus on it. From my understanding, it can't really get stuff like that because, unlike PCs, Macs are not open to other people/not on the same 'server' or what-have-you as everyone else is. Therefore, safety is increased.

I have owned PCs for many years, and no matter what I do, viruses, etc. tend to always f*** them up. I know people who have had Macs for many years without these problems.

I have used windows for over 10 years and never have I been infected with a virus or trojan.

You're one lucky duck then. Not even one little spyware thing? Do you have top-of-the-line security software? I know that there are such software out there, but costs a very pretty penny.

Even still, you must admit that although you're computer has supposedly never ever gotten one virus that you have heard about more problems with PCs than with MAC computers. Perhaps it's a regional thing?? Here in Dublin our products may not be the best of the best, as opposed to the US where Windows was born.

I use only freeware tech...

AdAware PE
Spybot Search and Destroy
Then some random anti virus suite...

Yes, we ship the crappy Windows releases to Ireland and keep all the good ones here in the US to ourselves, mwahaha.

Actually, if you just practice smart computing (i.e. running a virus scan on that pron you just scored off your 3 year old version of Kazaa) you will avoid virtually everything. Yes there are exploits, and even though I am not a microshaft fanboi by any means, not because of ther software because of their business practices, I must say they are getting better at patching holes when they realize they were there.

Also, I realize that you are a Mac fanboi, but it seems you have no actual Mac experience. Just because a company is not Microsoft is not a good reason to hold them up. BTW OSX is more closely related to linux, OSX Linux Link , which may be why people see it as more secure.