Microsoft says company monitored hacker Corporate networks vulnerable, pros say Hackers break into Microsoft network Security experts say more Americans need to be sensitized to the fact that a single computer with outdated software can give hackers or thieves the entry point they need to invade a computer network. ''It really only takes one computer to not be updated for something to compromise the entire network,'' said Steve Trilling, director of research at Symantec's Antivirus Research Center. And that means investigators have the added burden of dealing with international laws and getting cooperation from foreign police agencies.
People telecommuting from home makes the job even harder.
Not only must there be a secure connection, but a home user is more likely to open up an e-mail attachment that could contain a virus. Other family members might use the computer as well, presenting more security risks. Microsoft might have been protected against this attack, Trilling said, simply by regularly changing its password or taking five minutes to update virus protection software. The QAZ Trojan, the tool Microsoft said was used to steal its passwords, was discovered in July, and all major antivirus programs now protect against it. But many home users don't update their antivirus software regularly, so they're not protected against new viruses.