SEATTLE -- Microsoft has released new patches to fix security flaws in its Windows operating systems. The patches deal with deficiencies that could allow an attacker to take over another person's computer.

The repairs apply to Windows editions dating back to Windows 98, and also affect server systems going back to Windows NT Server 4.0

Microsoft wants to prevent an unauthorized person from being able to install new programs or to view, change or delete data on someone else's computer.

Similar flaws resulted in the Blaster worm, which hobbled hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide last August.

A security expert predicted the latest flaws could result in a similar attack, perhaps as soon as two weeks from now. Windows users who install the patch would not be affected.

Visit microsoft.com/security to download the patch(es). Or you can go straight to the Microsoft Windows Update site for an easy step-through update process.

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