It’s been well-publicised fact that Microsoft’s corner stone application within Word, PowerPoint, has been vulnerable to attacks from hackers.

Microsoft has now plugged the problem with the release of key updates.

In a simple attack, hackers would exploit the flaws within PowerPoint by tricking users to open up a presentation and unknowingly, download a malicious software programme contained within it. The mere act of opening it is enough to start the malware on its trip to deep down inside a computer’s registry files.

From there, it bides its time, waiting for the installer to give it instructions based on what it finds. Once downloaded, the malicious software programme, know as a Trojan, gets set up for its first job. It tests the internet connection of the computer it is attacking by ironically linking with the Microsoft Windows update site.

Then, once the Trojan has linked up and tested the connection, it sends back to its originator key information, including the computer name, the IP address and the operating systems being run. It then examines the computer’s directories, identifies any significant information and also updates itself, or paves the way for further malware, depending on what it has found.

To counter the ease of PowerPoint being attacked, Microsoft has released a number of patches which help solve the problem, and they are applicable for all versions back to 2000.

But for Mac users with 2004 and 2008 versions, there is still no patch available. Mac users will have to watch until a patch has been developed. They will have to resist downloading unknown PowerPoint files.

Guest Article by Neil Camp