Microsoft Corp. late Tuesday released an automated tool to stymie exploits of a critical unpatched Windows vulnerability that experts fear will soon be used by hackers against the general PC population.

However, the tool, like a manual procedure that Microsoft recommended last week, is only a makeshift defense, one that many users may resist applying, since it makes much of the Windows system, including the desktop, taskbar and Start menu, almost unusable.

The company posted a "Fix It" tool on its support site that automatically disables the displaying of all Windows shortcut files. Microsoft stepped users through the same technique last week in its initial security advisory, but at that time it told them that they had to edit the Windows registry. Most Windows users are reluctant to monkey with the registry, since a single error can cripple a computer.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179479/