Computers still vulnerable to hackers of start-up codes

[SAN FRANCISCO] A MULTI-YEAR effort in the United States to prevent hackers from altering computers while they boot up has largely failed because of lax application of preventive steps, researchers say, despite disclosures that flaws are being exploited.

In the latest sign that the problem persists, researchers at the federally funded MITRE lab said last week that many customers of Intel Corp still had not adopted revised security designs that Intel distributed in March after the MITRE team found new vulnerabilities in the start-up process.

That could mean many newer Windows computers remain exposed, the MITRE team told Reuters ahead of a presentation at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas this week.