Microsoft Office attacks on the rise

SEATTLE, April 23 (UPI) -- Sensitive U.S. military, trade and intelligence information is at risk from a rising number of attacks on Microsoft Office files, computer security firms say.

"The bad guys know which organizations have data worth stealing and are picking them out one by one," said Alex Shipp, senior technologist at MessageLabs, which has intercepted e-mail attacks coming from computers in China and Taiwan.

MessageLabs intercepted 716 corrupted e-mails last month aimed at 216 agencies and companies in the United States, USA Today reported Monday.

The attacks are working," said Alan Paller, of the SANS, a security think tank. "Penetrations are deep and broad."

Mark Miller, Microsoft's director of security response, advises workers to use "extreme caution" when opening Office files in e-mail, USA Today reported.