INTERNET EXPLORER SECURITY PROBLEMS RESOLVED:-MICROSOFT

IE security flaw fixed: Microsoft

Microsoft Corp said late on Wednesday that it has fixed a security bug in Internet Explorer that hackers exploited to attack some customers. The attacks had prompted the German government and security experts to urge people to temporarily stop using the browser.

The software maker said the permanent repair to the software, used by hundreds of millions of people, would be released on Friday and Microsoft Windows users who have their computers set to automatically download updates will be able to secure their systems from the flaw. Microsoft spokeswoman Yunsun Wee said in a statement that "the vast majority" of Internet Explorer users had not been attacked as a result of the security flaw.

The vulnerability in Internet Explorer was identified last Friday by a Luxembourg-based security researcher whose computer was infected while analysing a server used last year to launch a cyber industrial espionage campaign on dozens of chemical makers and defence contractors. Network security firm AlienVault said on Tuesday that it had discovered three other servers that hosted malicious websites exploiting the Internet Explorer flaw. It said the latest round of attacks targeted defence contractors, not the general public.

Internet Explorer was the world's second-most widely used browser last month, with about a 33% market share, according to StatCounter. It was close behind Chrome, which had 34% of the market.