Symantec Security Check is a free web-based tool that enables users to test their computer's exposure to a wide range of on-line threats," the press release begins. Unfortunately, Symantec Security Check has also been installing an on-line threat of its own in the form of a dangerous ActiveX control.

"The ActiveX control, named Symantec RuFSI Utility Class or Symantec RuFSI Registry Information Class, contains a buffer overflow exploit," the company says, though we're nearly certain they mean that it's exploitable, not that it's actually been infected with something. But you never know; the press release is one of those waffly ones that doesn't quite tell you everything you want to hear.

The buffer overflow can be exploited by hip Webmasters, and victims turning up at their sites risk having malicious code run on their Windows boxes.

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