Sophos Releases Windows Shortcut Exploit Protection Tool

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Sophos, IT security and control firm has released a free tool to protect against a Windows zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited to infect computers.

Sophos, IT security and control firm has released a free tool to protect against a Windows zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited to infect computers.

The Sophos Windows Shortcut Exploit Protection Tool is believed to safeguard computers against a high profile vulnerability that allows malicious hackers to exploit a bug in the way that all versions of Windows handles .LNK shortcut files.

The free tool which is available for download from Sophos website, intercepts shortcut files that contain the exploit, warning of the executable code that was attempting to run. Thus it stops malicious threats which use the vulnerability if they are on non-local disks, such as a USB stick.

\"So far we have seen the Stuxnet and Dulkis worms, as well as the Chymin Trojan horse, exploiting the shortcut vulnerability to help them spread and infect computer systems. Stuxnet made the headlines because it targeted the Siemens SCADA systems that loo

k after critical infrastructure like power plants - but there\'s a warning for all computer users here,\" said Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos.

\"No-one knows when Microsoft will roll-out a proper patch for this critical security hole, and its current workaround leaves systems almost unworkable with broken-looking icons,\" continued Cluley. \"The free tool from Sophos can be run alongside any existing anti-virus software, providing generic protection against the exploit.

Unlike Microsoft\'s workaround, it doesn\'t blank out all the shortcuts on your Windows Start Menu - meaning your life - and that of your users - will be less stressful, he added.