Microsoft releases security patch for critcial flaw

Today Microsoft released an emergency software patch to combat a critical flaw in Internet Explorer that puts millions of computers all over the globe at risk of being hijacked.

Today Microsoft released an emergency software patch to combat a critical flaw in Internet Explorer that puts millions of computers all over the globe at risk of being hijacked.

The flaw is of particular concern as unlike other virus programs or trojans it does not require the user to click a link or download a file to activate. The nature of the vulnerability means this malicious program hides from your virus protection software and then loads by stealth. If your computer becomes infected, you open a backdoor for hackers to steal personal data and install Trojans.

Don’t panic however, Microsoft Australia has described the threat to local computers as quite small.

“Locally, the threat is quite small and few Australian customers have been impacted by this,” said Stuart Strathdee of Microsoft.

Most computers with infections have occurred in mainland China.

Microsoft has advised users to go to http://www.microsoft.com.au/security to download the latest Internet Explorer patch.