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Microsoft warns users to update Internet Explorer to avoid major security risk
Reported by Dean Wilson on Thursday, February 16 2012 4:25 am
Microsoft has released a critical update for Internet Explorer that it is advising all users to download and install, warning of several vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to gain user rights on your PC.
Microsoft has released a critical update for Internet Explorer that it is advising all users to download and install, warning of several vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to gain user rights on your PC.
The February 2012 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer fixes five separate issues with Microsoft's troubled web browser, which is expected to be overtaken by Google Chrome this year.
The vulnerabilities allow hackers to use remote code execution through web pages viewed in Internet Explorer to gain the same users rights as the currently logged-on user, which is, generally speaking, the administrator. This acts as a huge backdoor into people's computers.
The Redmond, Washington-based firm rated the update “critical” for all versions of Internet Explorer except IE6, where it is only marked as “moderate.” The irony is that the older version, which Microsoft is attempting to kill off due to its insanely high security risk, appears to be less vulnerable to this bug.
Anyone who has Automatic Updates on, which is recommended for best security, will not need to do anything, but Microsoft recommends that users who wish to manually update should do so immediately. Considering the extent of the risk, we think that's a wise decision.
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