Internet Explorer Security

It has been reported both by the BBC and The Register that a bug in IE, namely “Zero Day”, was part of the cause for the security issues at Google’s Chinese offices. Following these reports, the German authorities have suggested users to switch to a different browser as Microsoft are yet to release a fix, although they have released a Security Advisory.

If you are using Internet Explorer 8, your operating system is Windows 7 and you are fully patched and updated (run Windows Update to find out), you are least at risk. For all users, we suggest performing the following to minimise any impact to your machine(s):

• Ensure that Windows is fully patched and updated. If you are using older versions of Internet Explorer, we highly recommend updating to version 8.
• Check to make sure your anti-virus is up to date too.
• To maximise protection, you could change your Internet Explorer security settings to “High”. You may have to add legitimate sites to the “trusted sites” list as high security settings may even block legitimate content.
• Be wary of the sites you are visiting and the adverts you are clicking on. If you are unsure at any stage and you are a supported client, call us for assistance.
• Alternatively, you can use a different browser. Google Chrome is fast and easy to use, while Firefox is the favourite for many.

We are keeping an eye on this one and will post updates to this story as and when they are released. If you are a supported client, call or e-mail us if you have any concerns or questions with regards to the above.