[money.cnn.com...]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -- Microsoft Corp. issued six "critical" security patches on Tuesday to fix flaws in its software products that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer.

The world's biggest software maker said the critical flaws affected versions of its Windows, Office, Works, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Malware Protection Engine products. It rated the other holes at its lower threat level of "important."