Microsoft will today bring forward a scheduled security update to fix the flaw in Internet Explorer that was exploited in the recent attack on Google.
After Microsoft admitted that it was a flaw in its browser that was exploited by hackers looking to launch an attack on Google systems, Microsoft will today (Thursday) take the rare step of releasing a critical security update early, with the update not due until February 9.
The update will be released at approximately 10am PST and comes after a number of high profile groups, including the governments of Australia, France and Germany, called for users to use alternative browsers to Internet Explorer, which has around 62.3% of the worldwide browser market. Following the announcement, both Mozilla Firefox and Opera, browsers which both claim user security as a selling point, saw notable spikes in the number of downloads.
“This is a standard cumulative update, accelerated from our regularly scheduled February release, for Internet Explorer with an aggregate severity rating of critical,” said Microsoft security programme manager Jerry Bryant.
“It addresses the vulnerability related to recent attacks against Google and a small subset of corporations, as well as several other vulnerabilities. Once applied, customers are protected against the known attacks that have been widely publicised.”
Microsoft have continued to refute claims that Internet Explorer is unsafe.
