FBI sounds alarm on Microsoft XP

The FBI's top cyber-security unit warned consumers and corporations to take new steps beyond those recommended by Microsoft to protect against hackers who might try to attack major flaws discovered in the newest version of Windows software.

The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Centre said that, in addition to installing a free software fix offered by Microsoft on the company's website, consumers and corporations using Windows XP should disable the product's "universal plug and play" features affected by the glitches.

Microsoft acknowledged that Windows XP suffers from serious problems that allow hackers to steal or destroy a victim's data files across the internet or implant rogue computer software.

The glitches were unusually serious because they allow hackers to seize control of all Windows XP operating system software without requiring a computer user to do anything except connect to the internet.