NEW MICROSOFT WINDOWS EXPLOIT: Does Avast protect against it???

http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3574016

Apparently, just viewing a webpage with this type of image (be it a 1x1 transparent pixel even) is enough to fall victim.

Even regardless of IE/Firefox/whatever, if it’s in your cache, it’s there. Simply highlighting the file even.

It can also do ANYTHING. Load a trojan, allow a hostile takeover, format your PC even.

I’m no expert, but there is a LOT of hype about this, and a lot of people are very worried.

As an Avast user, should I feel safe?? Or should I quickly run to one of the other anti-virus/security solutions? It appears NOD32 and Macaffee have already updated to combat this very real threat.

No mention there of any browser other than IE being susceptible.

Turner explains that these Web sites download a malicious WMF file onto the user’s computer. That file exploits the vulnerability, and then opens a backdoor and downloads a keylogger. If the user is logged in to her machine as an administrator, then the attacker could have complete control of the machine.

Vulnerable operating systems include several Windows Server 2003 editions: Datacenter Edition, Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition and Web Edition. Windows XP Home Edition also is at risk, along with Windows XP Professional.

Microsoft has released an advisory, suggesting IT administrators and users set the email client to read only text, and disable Windows picture and fax viewer.At present no patch has been released.

looks like dropping your rights is also the go. :-\

Take a look at the posting below:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=18295.0