Microsoft is releasing an update to its Internet
Explorer browser to fix a security problem that could expose personal
computers to hacking attacks.
A permanent repair to
the security flaw will be released on Friday. Microsoft Corp began
offering a temporary patch for the problem Wednesday on a part of its
website set up for technical issues.
The permanent
solution to the problem will be automatically installed on PCs running
on Microsoft’s Windows operating system if the machine is set up to
receive important updates. The temporary repair requires clicking on a
link.
Microsoft Corp which is based in Redmond,
Washington, is urging PC users who haven’t enabled their machines for
automatic updates to retrieve and install the permanent patch as soon as
possible on Friday.
Although Microsoft says “the
vast majority” of users have not been bit by the security bug, the
potential for trouble prompted a German technology agency to advise
using other Web browsers besides Internet Explorer.
Once
the dominant Web browser, Internet Explorer has been losing market
share in recent years to Google’s Chrome, Apple Inc’s Safari and
Mozilla’s Firefox.
At least one research firm
maintains that Chrome eclipsed Internet Explorer as the world’s most
popular browser earlier this year. Other measures still rate Internet
Explorer as the market leader.
Google Inc one of Microsoft’s fiercest rivals, touts Chrome as a faster and safer alternative to Internet Explorer.
Microsoft,
the world’s largest software maker, will release a new version of
Internet Explorer along with a dramatic overhaul of Windows on Oct 26.