Software Similar To MS Office May Include Hacking Vulnerabilities

A small but increasing number of individuals have switched to Apache’s OpenOffice as well as LibreOffice, which are clones of MS Office. These people believe that they can enjoy all of the functionality offered by the real thing but without having to pay the price as well as avoid the bugs, weaknesses, as well as the flaws that this particular product of Microsoft has been facing. The case is often observed as a low-hanging fruit by many hackers in different parts of the world, because of its huge user base. What they don't know is that they are compromising their computer security.

The problem is that this specific strategy has its own limitation. With the many similarities in terms of the functionality that are shared by these programs, they are bound to have codes that are similar in several ways. This is, as a matter of fact, what a lot of security researchers have been discovering.  

Alex Infuhr, an independent researcher from Austria, recently uncovered a vulnerability in both of the programs mentioned earlier that let hackers to co-opt the programs through what they refer to as path transversal. That lets the code to go beyond its existing directory and into another one. This could be achieved by sending infected files to unsuspecting users. They sole interaction that was needed was for the target to put their mouse over an invisible hyperlink, which is really easy to do. If you don't know how to keep your network secure, talk to an IT consultant.

When the word got out, John Lambert, who is also a researchers, offered more evidence of concept samples of the exact same problem. LibreOffice immediately offered a patch for the bug however, Apache’s Open Office continues to be vulnerable.

The main issue is that if you are using a clone of MS office believing that you can avoid most of the attacks on the real thing, you are not as safe as you think you are. Worse, the individuals who supposed to manage the code bases of these clones might not deal with the threats as fast or as decisively as those like MS Office.

That does not mean you should no longer use the alternatives for MS Office especially if you have already installed them in your network. You just have to remember that what you are using is just as vulnerable as the MS Office.

Secure your computer network. Call SpartanTec, Inc. now. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 326-5914
https://spartantec-greenville.business.site/

Cities Served
Greenville, Spartansburg, Mauldin, East Park, Overbrook, West Greenville, Greer