The German government has warned web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer to protect security.

The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google's systems.

Microsoft say the security hole can be shut by setting the browser's security zone to "high", although this limits functionality and blocks many websites.

However, German authorities say that even this would not make IE fully safe.

Speaking to BBC News, Graham Cluley of anti-virus firm Sophos said the warning applied to versions 6, 7 and 8 of the browser.

"This is a vulnerability that was announced in the last couple of days. Microsoft have no patch yet and the implication is that this is the same one that exploited on the attacks on Google earlier this week," he said.

"The way to exploit this flaw has now appeared on the internet , so it is quite possible that everyone is now going to have a go."

Microsoft traditionally release a security update once a month - the next scheduled patch is the 9th of February. However, a spokesman for Microsoft told BBC News said developers for the firm were trying to fix the problem.

"We are working on an update on this issue and this may well be involve an out of cycle security update," he said.

Fix development

However, this is no easy task. Not only have the firm got to fix the loophole, but they have to ensure it does not create another one and - equally importantly - works on all computers. A task compounded by the fact they have to fix three different versions of its browser.

Microsoft said that while all versions of Internet Explorer were affected, the risk was lower with more recent releases of its browser.

The other problem facing developers is that the possible risk might not be prevented by anti-virus software, even when recently updated.

"We've been working to analyse the malware that the Chinese are using. But new versions can always be created," said Mr Cluley

"We've been working with Microsoft to see if the damage can be mitigated and we are hoping that they will release an emergency patch.

"One thing that should be stressed is that every browser has its security issues, so switching may remove this current risk but could expose you to another."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8463516.stm

"Internet explorer is sh*te"

I think so too, that is why I am using Safari.

Firefox has and always will be the better browser.

google chrome is much better than IE, and also better than firefox. saying IE is sh*t is like saying the nazi`s werent very nice.

Opera is the best!

Happy realization!

IE always sucked and that will never change.

google chrome is much better than IE, and also better than firefox. saying IE is sh*t is like saying the nazi`s werent very nice.

I never noticed that before, but QI is 100% right. Every single debate/discussion/arguement will eventually come back to the Nazi's/Hitler. In this case, it took around 2 posts!

I was reading somewhere microsoft "accidentally..." left some bad security coding into an update which made Firefox vulnerable to attacks for a few days... Firefox also makes half the apps/games on facebook crash my laptop... together with IE always being the biggest pile of horse manure ever... Google chrome has been really good so far, been using for a few months now, and i prefer it a lot more to the others (haven't tried Opera or Safari though)

I never noticed that before, but QI is 100% right. Every single debate/discussion/arguement will eventually come back to the Nazi's/Hitler. In this case, it took around 2 posts!

funnily enough that was why i said it, i watched that episode last week. wondered if anyone would pick up on it. quicker than i though, only took 3 posts

SRWare Iron >>>> All. Until they get a Mac version out anyway. Using FF for now. On the subjects of browsers, I know someone who works for Mozilla. We used to run together in high school. Great guy.

google chrome is much better than IE, and also better than firefox. saying IE is sh*t is like saying the nazi`s werent very nice.

Chrome has some privacy issues that I'm not exactly comfortable with. Give Iron a shot. It's Chrome but without those privacy problems.

SRWare Iron >>>> All. Until they get a Mac version out anyway. Using FF for now. On the subjects of browsers, I know someone who works for Mozilla. We used to run together in high school. Great guy.

Chrome has some privacy issues that I'm not exactly comfortable with. Give Iron a shot. It's Chrome but without those privacy problems.

im running iron of a memory stick at the moment, its a belting little thing and good to use at work...

SRWare Iron >>>> All. Until they get a Mac version out anyway. Using FF for now. On the subjects of browsers, I know someone who works for Mozilla. We used to run together in high school. Great guy.

Chrome has some privacy issues that I'm not exactly comfortable with. Give Iron a shot. It's Chrome but without those privacy problems.

i just installed SRWare Iron and its great, it runs a bit faster then Chrome too, Thanks very much for mentioning it

For me Firefox is the best browser!

mozilla firefox ;).

Thank f**k you said that, I've been waiting since February for you to post that.

Thank f**k you said that, I've been waiting since February for you to post that.

............. :lol: