Microsoft has moved quickly to fix an exploit that was discovered a few days ago in some versions of its Internet Explorer web browser. The hole was already being used by hackers to deliver a malware program via a Flash issue on IE7, IE8, and IE9 on Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
In a blog post today, Microsoft said that it has made available a new "Fix it" download that should close this hole. The blog states, "This is an easy, one-click solution that will help protect your computer right away. It will not affect your ability to browse the web, and it does not require a reboot of your computer."
Microsoft also plans to offer yet another IE security update this Friday. The blog says:
We recommend that you install this update as soon as it is available. If you have automatic updates enabled on our PC, you won’t need to take any action – it will automatically be updated on your machine. This will not only reinforce the issue that the Fix It addressed, but cover other issues as well.
Microsoft seems to be making a big deal about this IE update. Indeed, the company is holding a webcast to discuss the IE security issues on Friday at 3 pm ET (noon PT).
Source: Microsoft blog | Image via Microsoft