14 DAY TRIAL // Internet Explorer is now the second option in Windows 10 after the debut of Edge browser, but this doesn't stop some people from using it not necessarily because they want to, but because they have to due to company apps or other compatibility issues.
All Internet Explorer users must be aware of a critical flaw that Microsoft has already confirmed and patched this morning, so in case you do use Internet Explorer regularly, you are strongly recommended to deploy the patch as soon as possible.
The critical flaw, which was discovered by Google security researcher Clement Lecigne, affects absolutely all Internet Explorer versions currently on the market, so it doesn't really matter which Windows version you are running. IE is vulnerable to attacks everywhere, so patch your systems now.
Microsoft Edge is not affected
According to the official advisory released by Microsoft today, the zero-day flaw requires an attacker to get the vulnerable machine to load a specially compromised website.
“The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Internet Explorer. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights,” Microsoft says.
The patch is already available via Windows Update, but Microsoft recommends users to upgrade to Windows 10 and switch to the Edge browser, which not only comes with a new engine but also benefits from enhanced security and a richer feature set.
If you still use Internet Explorer and can't patch it right now, you are strongly recommended to avoid clicking on links coming from unknown or suspicious sources that might harm your computer in one way or another.