16-12-2008, 12:56 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7784908.stm
Users of the world's most common web browser havebeen advised to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw hasbeen fixed.
The flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminalsto take control of people's computers and steal their passwords,internet experts say.
Microsoft is investigating the problem and preparing an emergency software patch to resolve it, it says.
Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users.<!-- E SF -->
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation ofpublic reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in InternetExplorer," said the firm in a security advisory alert about the flaw.
Microsoft says it has detected attacks against version seven of the browser - its most widely used edition.
But the company warned that other versions were also potentially vulnerable.
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since last weekto take advantage of the security flow, said antivirus software makerTrend Micro.
The websites have been mostly serving up programs that stealcomputer game passwords, but the flaw could be "adopted by morefinancially motivated criminals", a Trend Micro security researchersaid on Monday.<!-- E BO -->
Users of the world's most common web browser havebeen advised to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw hasbeen fixed.
The flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminalsto take control of people's computers and steal their passwords,internet experts say.
Microsoft is investigating the problem and preparing an emergency software patch to resolve it, it says.
Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users.<!-- E SF -->
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation ofpublic reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in InternetExplorer," said the firm in a security advisory alert about the flaw.
Microsoft says it has detected attacks against version seven of the browser - its most widely used edition.
But the company warned that other versions were also potentially vulnerable.
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since last weekto take advantage of the security flow, said antivirus software makerTrend Micro.
The websites have been mostly serving up programs that stealcomputer game passwords, but the flaw could be "adopted by morefinancially motivated criminals", a Trend Micro security researchersaid on Monday.<!-- E BO -->