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Internet Explorer bug fix may get early release from Microsoft

Wednesday, 27 September 2006

Internet Explorer bug fix may get early release from Microsoft

Computer software giant Microsoft is considering making an early release of a fix for a bug in Internet Explorer that malicious hackers are actively exploiting online.

Microsoft usually only releases patches once a month but the company said it might put the fix out sooner if the problem grew severe enough and independent, unofficial patches have already appeared from some security firms.

Taking advantage of the new bug, hackers can take over Windows machines and implant spyware or bombard people with unwanted adverts.

Anti-spyware firm Sunbelt Software discovered the bug on 21 September and it found that hackers could exploit weaknesses in the way that Microsoft's browser handles vector graphics to hijack Windows PCs.

One site found by Sunbelt used this vulnerability to install huge amounts of spyware and adware on a computer even though the machine had the latest updates.

Microsoft acknowledged the discovery of the browser bug and said it was monitoring the situation.

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