Microsoft fixes big IE bug -- even on Windows XP
Microsoft has issued a fix for a dangerous Internet Explorer bug that left the browser highly vulnerable across every major version -- including those that run on Windows XP.
The patch, delivered at 10 a.m. Thursday, comes out of Microsoft's usual Patch Tuesday cycle because of its severity. It affected IE 6 through 11 and allowed attackers to install malware on your computer without your permission that could be used to steal personal data, track online behavior, or gain control of the computer.
Security firm FireEye, which discovered the previously unknown and unfixed flaw five days ago, said it saw a vulnerability used to target financial and defense institutions on Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. Nevertheless, Microsoft's patch today fixes all affected versions of the browser.
