Special Patch for IE Security Hole, Users Move to Firefox

Jan 21, 2010

Microsoft has decided to issue a special patch outside its usual patchday rhythm for all its Internet Explorer versions to close a severe vulnerability issue. Downloads of Firefox have accordingly skyrocketed.

Microsoft's announcement promises a patch for the security hole reported in Security Advisory 979352 "by early evening Thursday." As a workaround, the new Internet Explorer 8 is supposed to be more secure in that it has additional security mechanisms built in, such as data execution prevention and protected mode, although it isn't entirely free of the vulnerability.

Mozilla reports that the warnings from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) have helped increase Firefox downloads.

Related content

Comments

  • Great

    This is good news, though if users download opera it'll still be good.
comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News