Microsoft Explorer despite it previous vulnerabilities and the constant challenge for other web browsers looking to take over the crown is still used by over 80 % of the planet according to research.

Little wonder then that hackers try and exploit explorer at every opportunity but the latest vulnerability appears to be very serious.

The vulnerability has been publicised and Brian Krebs the respected security journalist at the Washington post has been tracking and reporting the situation.

Krebs reports that Microsoft now says the flaw affects all supported versions of IE, and because security experts are warning that a large number of sites are being compromised in an effort to exploit this vulnerability and install malware on vulnerable systems.

SANS’s chief technology officer Johannes Ullrich estimates that thousands of sites have been seeded with this exploit to date and Microsoft have also released a security advisory that outlines a number of recommendations.

Unfortunately many average users if they were to read the advisory would be reluctant or not have the technical know how to put the recommendations in place and even if they are they would appear to throw up other problems.

What is more worrying however is that another respected source according to Krebs claimed that a very small minority of anti- virus applications are even detecting the problem although this situation may change with updated detection rules.

In the meantime what should we do? The IT operations manager for a respected data solution provider in Sheffield that specialises in server supply and installation has recommended that for the time being until this vulnerability is closed that users investigate using other common browsers.

Surfers Beware!