Microsoft to Release a Patch for Internet Explorer Browser Flaw

Microsoft is releasing a patch for the flaw in its Internet Explorer browser, which has already lead to the infection of more than 2m computers worldwide. The patch should be available on the Microsoft Update website at 6pm GMT today.

The flaw, which lets hackers gain access to computers and steal personal data, was spotted last week in IE7. It was subsequently found in earlier versions of Microsoft's browser, IE5 and IE6, and the company has put together a patch for all versions of its browser.

Because IE is used by seven out of every 10 computers in the world, the flaw was potentially very serious and security experts went so far as to suggest that users dump IE and use another browser, such as Firefox.

The flaw in IE can give criminals control of computers that have visited a website infected with malicious code designed to exploit it. Antivirus software specialist Trend Micro reckons as many as 10,000 sites have been hacked to exploit the flaw.

John Curran, head of Microsoft's Windows commercial business group in the UK, said yesterday that the company was "working around the clock" to ...[More on HotFeeder.com]