Internet Explorer's security flaw puts users at risk

Posted by Caitlin on December 16th, 2008

Hackers have discovered a vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer. So far, up to 10,000 websites have been compromised by this security flaw. So far, hackers have mainly used the flaw to steal game passwords, but it could also allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords. Microsoft has detected attacks against IE 7.0 but said that the flaw exists in all versions of Internet Explorer, which is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users. Microsoft is currently working on a patch to resolve the issue, but in the meantime, experts recommend that Internet Explorer users switch to another Internet browser. Other browsers, including Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera are not vulnerable to this security flaw.

If you are concerned about malware, be sure that your Internet security software is up to date. To learn more about Internet security software, see our reviews and comparison. And if you are worried about the possibility of an identity thief gaining access to the sensitive personal data stored on your computer, you may wish to consider an identity theft protection service. To learn more about these services, see our reviews and comparison.