ED#137 : Spy Virus Compromises Microsoft Digital Security Certificates

Microsoft has revealed that the highly sophisticated Flame espionage virus has compromised Microsoft's own security system to forge its own digital security certificates! These certificates authenticate online transactions, making it easier for the Flame virus to spread undetected by anti-virus scanners.

Microsoft has already fixed the security breach and marked those compromised digital security certificates as "untrustworthy". However, you will still need to download the "certificate revocation list update" to prevent Windows from accepting these compromised certificates. It is now available as an update for Windows 7 (KB2718704) :

The Flame virus seems to be targeted specifically at computers in the Middle East, particularly Iran. Hence, accusations that it was developed by US or Israeli agencies. Even if we are not in the Middle East, we shouldn't be complacent about it as this virus is capable of doing a lot of hanky-panky like...

1. Monitor your e-mails, instant messages and hard drive contents
2. Take screenshots and record keystrokes
3. Turn on microphones (if any) and use it to record conversations
4. Turn on webcams (if any) and use it to record video or take photos
5. Download information from nearby Bluetooth devices or network-connected devices

Just imagine you have the Flame virus watching everything you are doing right now, and transmitting it back to its masters... Crazy stuff!

So go download the latest certificate revocation list from Microsoft and update your anti-virus software!

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