Today, Microsoft released a global security update designed to protect customers from a vulnerability recently discovered in Internet Explorer. Microsoft has been working around the clock to develop the security update, which customers will receive automatically if they have the ‘Automatic Update’ function activated on their PCs. Customers who do not have the ‘Automatic Update’ function activated can download the update at www.microsoft.com.au/security. General guidance on how to secure and protect computers is also provided on this site.
For those customers who have not activated ‘Automatic Update’ or who are unsure about the status of their PCs, Microsoft strongly advises they visit www.microsoft.com.au/security to find out how to switch on this feature.
The impact on Microsoft’s Australian customers has so far been minimal and Microsoft is not advising Internet Explorer users to switch browsers. Microsoft’s Security Response Center is continuing to monitor the threat landscape following the issue of today’s update and will share relevant information with partners around the globe through the Microsoft Active Protections Program to help protect our customers.
Microsoft also hosted a webcast to address customer questions on this bulletin today at 8:00AM AEDT (NSW, VIC, ACT). The Webcast is now available on demand at: Register now for the Out-of-band December Security Bulletin Webcast.
Further background information on the vulnerability (known as Microsoft Security Advisory ‘961051’) can be found by here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx