Microsoft releases vulnerability analysis tool

Software giant Microsoft has released a new version of the Attack Surface Analyzer which provides users a way of calculating different vulnerabilities in their operating system.

The piece of software has been used by the company’s own employees during testing procedures.

“Some of the checks performed by the tool include analysis of changed or newly added files, registry keys, services, ActiveX Controls, listening ports, access control lists, and other parameters that affect a computer’s attack surface,” the company said on its blog.

The company says the tool is designed for developers who want to see how different lines of code change vulnerabilities in Windows. But Microsoft recommends using a virtual machine in order to minimise harm on real and critical systems.