US government warns against Microsoft Internet Explorer use
In an unprecedented move the US government is openly advising people to seek alternatives to Microsoft Internet Explorer, such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, /news/2014/04/28/vulnerability-internet-explorer-browser-allows-hackers-access-user-rights">following discovery of the latest security flaw
The US department of Homeland Security is advising against use of the platform until a fix is made available as users of versions 6 through 11 of the popular software system risk ‘complete compromise’ of their computers through continued use.
In a statement Microsoft conceded: “An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.”
Microsoft is currently working on a patch to fix the flaw but this may not be available for a number of weeks, whilst Windows XP users will be left to fend for themselves after the software giant pulled the plug on further support for the ageing platform.
It is estimated that vulnerable versions of IE currently account for over half of the total global desktop browser market.