MSN Messenger Flaw Could Enable Hackers

Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, said a security flaw in the MSN Messenger program for exchanging messages over the Internet could enable a hacker to take over a user’s computer.

The MSN Messenger program had 23.4 million users in September, according to a study by market research firm Jupiter Media Metrix, making it the second-most popular such program.

A similar program that comes installed with Microsoft’s newest Windows version does not have the flaw, an e-mailed Microsoft security alert said.

A software patch to fix the flaw can be downloaded at www.microsoft.com/ Downloads/Release.asp? ReleaseID38790.