Microsoft’s Windows operating system remains a huge target for the bad guys. Datamation has the story on the software giant’s latest patch for malware called a rootkit that infected some user’s PCs.
Microsoft has rereleased a bug patch from last month that some Windows XP users blamed for repeated restarts and blue screen crashes.
After investigating, however, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) security engineers determined that the crashes and reboots were being caused by a piece of malware called a rootkit that infected those users’ PCs.
The updated patch, which is being distributed on Microsoft’s Automatic Update, looks for the rootkit, known as Alureon. If it’s found, the user receives a notice that the operating system is “incompatible” with the patch, which is numbered MS10-015, the company said in an e-mail to InternetNews.com.
“If detection logic included in Automatic Update discovers abnormal conditions in certain operating system file configurations, the update will fail and customers will be presented with an error message that offers alternative support options. If this occurs, Microsoft customer support will work with impacted customers to resolve each issue,” the statement by Jerry Bryant, senior security communications manager lead, said.
Problems erupted soon after Microsoft released the patch — one of many that the company released during February’s Patch Tuesday distribution.