Intel's Centrino Vulnerability

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has revealed security flaws in its Centrino WiFi chipset that could potentially affect many users that are running the silicon in their laptops.

The chipmaker has warned users to update their drivers after it revealed that Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) drivers for its top-selling chipset could potentially allow hackers to wirelessly spread worms and viruses between machines.

"An attacker could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities which could potentially lead to remote code execution and system control," says Intel in a security update on its Website.

Intel has updates for the drivers on its Website. The chipmaker, however, is suggesting that worried users should contact the manufacturers of their laptops for device-specific updates.

Intel has sold over $5 billion of the WiFi chipsets since the line was first launched in March 2003. (See Centrino: Building the Brand.)

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung