The software patch, which was released last night, has closed a loophole that has seen the computers of at least two million users hacked by cyber criminals. The problem related to a “zero day” flaw that tricked people into visiting an infected website, enabling hackers to gain access to online banking passwords and e-shopping logon details.
“Microsoft has released a security update for Internet Explorer that will help protect its customers from malicious attacks,” said the company in a statement. “Like a vaccine developed to fight a virus, this ‘security update’ will protect computers only if it is installed.”
Computers that are set to automatically update and install software will already be protected by the patch. Those users who manage their own updates are advised to download the fix as soon as possible from the Microsoft website.
“Microsoft has released a security update for Internet Explorer that will help protect its customers from malicious attacks,” said the company in a statement. “Like a vaccine developed to fight a virus, this ‘security update’ will protect computers only if it is installed.”
Computers that are set to automatically update and install software will already be protected by the patch. Those users who manage their own updates are advised to download the fix as soon as possible from the Microsoft website.
“When the patch is released, people should run, not walk, to get it installed,” said Paul Ferguson, a researcher with Trend Micro. “This vulnerability is being actively exploited by cyber criminals and getting worse every day.”
It is thought that the security flaw, which came to light earlier this week, was exposed by accident, after a Chinese security firm, Knowsec, released details of the loophole believing Microsoft had already issued a software fix to resolve it.
(Telegraph.co.uk)
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