Netscape security alert

Security expert Dan Brumleve says he has found a serious security problem with Netscape Communicator. Brumleve has published a Java applet that, reportedly, allows Napster-like access to users' computers if they visit, with Netscape Communicator, a Web site that has the program running in the background. The code effectively turns a computer with Netscape enabled into a file server, and some users are apparently employing the applet for that purpose. Brumleve also says that "the applet can be initiated through email messages that are read on Netscape Mail."

For more information, read dailynews.yahoo.com or www.wired.com.

UPDATE : Netscape says it is working on a fix and expects to release a patch within the next 48 hours. In the meantime, it is recommended that Netscape users turn off Java. Click Edit/Preferences/Advanced, then remove the check mark next to Enable Java.