Microsoft issues updates to close serious Internet Explorer vulnerability

Microsoft Corp. was delivering software updates Friday to close a loophole that had allowed hackers to convert popular Web sites into virus transmitters. Though the updates do not entirely fix the flaw with Microsoft's nearly ubiquitous Internet Explorer browsers, they change settings in Windows operating systems to make it impossible for hackers to use the flaw to deliver malicious code to users' computers. Stephen Toulouse, a security program manager at Microsoft, said the company still was working on a comprehensive patch to close vulnerabilities with Internet Explorer, but the settings change should protect users from the immediate threat. First discovered by Microsoft last week, the new technique allowed the spread of a computer virus designed to steal valuable information like passwords. The impact of the "Scob" outbreak was mild, but security experts worried others might copy the technique to send spam or launch broad attacks to cripple the Internet.