Microsoft announces critical security bugs

Microsoft Corp. released eight security fixes Tuesday that carry its highest threat rating and urged computer users to install them quickly because all the vulnerabilities they address could let attackers take complete control of systems.

Seven of the security vulnerabilities Microsoft marked "critical" affect the Windows operating system and related software, including the Internet Explorer browser, media player and instant messaging program. The eighth is with the Redmond software maker's Office XP business software.

Microsoft also released four security fixes that carry lesser threat levels, but the problems could still let attackers gain some control of a system.

"This is a month that has a significant number of updates for customers to deploy," conceded Stephen Toulouse, a Microsoft security program manager.

But he said the company works to make fixes available as soon as it has them.