An emergency patch has been released by Microsoft to deal with the “zero day” vulnerability, where criminals have already compromised  unsuspecting personal computers on a world scale. 

One symptom describe is that browsers are redirected to infected websites.  Microsoft describe the browser hijack as perilous and adviser users of microsoft to install the patch found here immediately.

 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-dec.mspx

Microsoft shipped a security update, rated “critical,” for the browser on Wednesday. People with the Windows Update feature activated on their computers will get the patch automatically.

“People should now run, not walk, to get it installed,” said Trend Micro advanced threat researcher Paul Ferguson. “This vulnerability is being actively exploited by cyber-criminals and getting worse every day.”

Engineering teams across the globe advise Microsoft customers to install the software immediately.  The threat immobilizes security and criminal hackers can take control of victims machines.  Millions of machines are already infected. 

Trend Micro has identified about 10,000 websites that have been infected with malicious software that can be surreptitiously slipped into visitors’ unprotected IE browsers to take advantage of the flaw.

Make sure you copy of Windows is legitimate.  Microsoft’s range of premium operating systems for example Vista and XP are subject to a lease agreement with gives value for service in working to conteract cyber-crime. 

If you are unable to use windows updates it is possible users are unaware their copy of windows is not.  Consumers need to count the overall cost of this loss to their data and become more computer savvy.  If you are unsure, contact your nearest Microsoft distributor.