If you’re using Windows XP you might want to avoid the F1 key when navigating the web with Internet Explorer, at least that’s the newest announcement by Microsoft.

The story goes as such; users browse the web in a carefree fit of joy when all of a sudden they hit the F1 key to access a Microsoft help file. Once pressed a vulnerability in VBScript is opened and malicious code is installed on the users computer.

The issue effects Windows 2000, XP and Windows Server 2003.

According to Microsoft:,

“arbitrary code could be executed in the security context of the currently logged-on user.”

I’m pressing my F1 key repeatedly right now to no ill effect…oh wait, I use Firefox, problem solved. [Engadget]