Using Microsoft Word 2010? Be alert for rogue .RTF files.

If you're still using Microsoft Word 2010, be on the lookout for people asking you to open files with the .RTF extension, as an exploit can give hackers access to your computer.

What's an RTF file? It stands for Rich Text Format, and is a text format that can be opened in programs like MS Word. Legitimate RTF files simply contain text files.

But crafty scammers have found out a way to create malicious RTF files that they then try to send to potential victims across the Internet. (Primary conduit will almost certainly be sending malicious RTF files through email)

So if you're using MS Word 2010, just be on the watch-out for suspicious emails and other communications that implore you to open RTF files (files with a .rtf extension) - users with Word 2003 or 2007 can also be at risk as well.

Following your usual security advice of not opening unusual or suspicious files should be enough to protect yourself from this threat.

This exploit should soon be all patched up by Microsoft soon, so ensure that future Microsoft updates are installed in a timely manner!