MS06-040 Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability protection

Agnitum has reassured users of Outpost Firewall Pro that the software already protects them from MS06-040 Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability protection.

San Jose, CA; St. Petersburg, Russia (PRWEB) August 16, 2006 -- The security experts at Agnitum Ltd. today reassured business and personal users of Outpost Firewall Pro that the software already protects them from what the US Department of Homeland Security is calling "the worst bug of August."

Microsoft identified the highly-critical vulnerability in the Windows Server Service in Security Bulletin MS06-040, published Aug. 8, 2006. Under the heading "Vulnerability in Server Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution," the Microsoft bulletin states that "An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights."

Worms that exploit this vulnerability to gain access to users' computers, then link them into a global "botnet" to send spam and steal personal information, have already appeared on the Internet. The US Department of Homeland Security publicly referred to this vulnerability as an "exploit for the worst bug of August on the loose" in its security report for August 11.

Agnitum's security experts are warning that this is likely only the first of many such threats, as was the case with the LoveSan and MSBlast worms in 2003. For more information, see the full assessment in the Security Advisory section of Agnitum's web site.

Outpost Firewall Pro users are protected against this particular vulnerability and other vulnerabilities that can hijack and take remote control of PCs running Windows. Outpost Firewall Pro prevents unknown or unauthorized programs from sending or receiving data over the Internet, thus blocking hackers from taking control of the system.

"Users who have installed Outpost Firewall Pro need not be concerned about this vulnerability," said Alexey Belkin, chief software architect at Agnitum. "Outpost's default settings ensure users can safely connect to the Internet, whether or not they have downloaded the latest updates -- although of course we do recommend that users install the latest Microsoft security updates as soon as possible."

Adds Mikhail Penkovsky, vice president of Marketing and Sales at Agnitum: "The fact that users of Outpost Firewall Pro are protected against the latest critical Microsoft Windows vulnerability even before it is identified and reported proves once again the continuing need for and significance of third-party security products."

Founded in 1999, Agnitum Ltd. is committed to delivering and supporting high-quality, easy to use security software. The company's products are Outpost Firewall Pro, securing personal and family desktops, and Outpost Network Security, ensuring reliable endpoint protection and performance for small business networks. Agnitum firewall technology is licensed by Novell, Sophos and Lavasoft.

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MS06-040 Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability protection
Agnitum has reassured users of Outpost Firewall Pro that the software already protects them from MS06-040 Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability protection.

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