The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urged personal computer owners to immediately fix a dangerous vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows operating systems, an AFP report said.
The AFP report quoted a statement from the DHS as saying that 'this vulnerability could impact government systems, private industry and critical infrastructure, as well as individual and home users."
Windows runs most of the world's computers and has been a constant target of attacks by worms, trojans, viruses and other malicious software.
Attackers could take advantage of the software weakness to remotely take control of computers, according to the DHS.
PC users were called on to apply Microsoft security patch MS06-040 'as quickly as possible,' the report said.
The DHS also reported that its Computer Emergency Readiness Team was working with Microsoft to protect or minimize the damage to government machines.
Attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems typically spike in the days after security patches are released, the report said.
Computer security professionals advise people to keep their operating system software current and use up-to-date anti-virus programs, the report further said.