Security Flaws Reportedly Found in Microsoft's Vista

One of the key selling points for Microsoft’s(MSFT Quote) new Vista operating system is enhanced security.

Yet, researchers have been finding troublesome potential security flaws, according to a report in Monday's The New York Times.

Over the weekend, Determina, a Silicon Valley computer security company, said it had informed Microsoft it had found six vulnerabilities, the report said.

One of the flaws is the same as that described in mid-December by a Russian programmer. It makes it possible to increase users' privileges on Microsoft’s recent operating systems.

Determina also found an error in the code of Microsoft's new Internet Explorer 7 Web browser. This flaw is "particularly troubling," the report said, because it means users of the browser could find their computers infected with malicious software just by visiting Web sites.

Microsoft shares finished Friday down 34 cents at $29.64.