Microsoft Explorer Flaw. Have You Downloaded the Update Yet?
Jan22Written by:
2009/01/22 07:31 AM 
Microsoft has rushed out an emergency fix for its Internet Explorer (IE) software last year during the last half of December. After they discovered a flaw which allows hackers to take over PCs. The question is, have you downloaded and installed the update yet.
Microsoft has rushed out an emergency fix for its Internet Explorer (IE) software last year during the last half of December. After they discovered a flaw which allows hackers to take over PCs.
Microsoft released the patch on it own rather than waiting for its regular monthly update. The question is, have you downloaded and installed the update yet. Many users prefer not have their PC run automatic updates. So if your PC had not automatically update your software, you are at risk.
If this is the case I would suggest running over to the MS websites and downloading the update. You can find it here.
The flaw was discovered during the middle of December 2008 and attacks were "spreading like wildfire", according to software security firm Trend Micro. The company's senior security adviser Rik Ferguson said: "It's a flaw that affects every version of Explorer on all versions of Windows."
Many cyber criminals operate by using malware - software that is installed on people's computers without them knowing. The software can then run in the background and connect to servers elsewhere, giving it the potential to detect and then pass on confidential information.
Malware are 'injected' onto websites across the world, often by cyber criminals who install them by using sign-up forms or other methods of interacting with a website. The malware then runs a piece of Javascript that can detect when the site is being accessed on Explorer, and it then activates and downloads the malicious software.
Trend Micro believes as many as 10,000 sites have already been compromised, though Mr Ferguson said it is impossible to know how many might have been hit.
So what do I do?
- First up. Make sure you have the latest patches of windows, Explorer, and your anti-virus software.
- Switch to another browser while the software is being downloaded. The malware only affects Internet Explorer.
- Put your security setting high
- Make sure you firewall is active
- Put Vista into protected mode.
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