Microsoft has issued instructions on how users can protect the two most recent versions of Internet Explorer against a recently discovered security flaw.
The flaw allows hackers to get pass malicious code into an innocuous website, using a compromised file, to obtain potentially all information on the device being used, according to Reuters.
The software maker said that it will deliver the update to all customers, including Windows XP users, even though it's stopped supporting the operating system earlier this month.
Windows XP first launched in 2001, but Microsoft stopped supporting it on April 8.
"An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user, including the ability to take complete control of an affected system," Microsoft said in its warning. "An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights."
Attacks could exploit the vulnerability by hosting "a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website," Microsoft said in its warning.
Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 are listed in the warning by Microsoft.
Click here to read what Microsoft has said IE users should do about the security flaw.
The security issue caused the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team to advise users to switch to a different browser option until it's fixed.
"Implementing Microsoft's recommendations will be tough," said Chris Camejo, director of assessment services at NTT Com Security, in Bloomfield, Conn., according to The Detroit Free Press.
Some experts worry that since the world has now been told about the flaw, hackers are now more likely to switch from "targeted attacks" to "widespread attacks."
"Once news of a vulnerability is made public, attackers don't have much reason to try to keep it secret anymore," said Camejo.
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