Tech giant Microsoft Corp has warned millions of its consumers using Windows PC of attacks related to the recently uncovered Freak (Factoring RSA-EXPORT Keys) security vulnerability.
According to the company, the security vulnerability is initially believed to only threaten the Mac computers and the mobile devices.
The reports of the security vulnerability surfaced on Tuesday after a group of nine security experts revealed that the devices that run Apple Inc’s Mac operating systems and iOS, and Google Inc’s Android browser are vulnerable to cyber hacks due to the use of ubiquitous Internet encryption technology.
The company on Thursday released a security advisory cautioning its Widows PC customers were vulnerable to “Freak”.
The Freak vulnerability could allow the cyber attacks on those personal computers that connect with Internet servers using ubiquitous Internet encryption technology that are intentionally weakened in order to comply with the US government regulations that ban exports of the strongest encryption.
If hackers are successful in the cyber breach, valuable information can be compromised as well as PCs would be infected with the malicious software, according to the researchers.
According to a media report, the official websites of the White House (whitehouse.gov) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (fbi.gov) were among the sites that were vulnerable to these attacks. The report, however, said that the government had secured them.
Microsoft has asked its system administrators to disable the Windows servers’ settings that permit use of the weaker Internet technology encryption. The company is currently investigating the threat following which it will develop a security update that would provide automatic protection to Windows PC users from the vulnerability.
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