UPDATE (5/1/14 1:09pm): Got word this afternoon that Microsoft has finally issued issued a fix on for the MAJOR security flaw in the popular web browser Internet Explorer. This breach led the Department of Homeland Security to suggest that IE Users change browsers until the problem was solved. According to computer experts, all users of the Windows operating system need to have automatic updates turned on. For those that don't have the updates enabled, "now is the time," according to Dustin Childs who represents the response communications team at Microsoft.

Original story below:

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There has been a major breach of Internet Explorer (IE). If you're using Internet Explorer and click on the wrong link, a hacker could hijack your computer.

The folks at Microsoft are in a hurry to address a weakness in its popular Web browser that security experts are deeply concerned with. Computer experts recently discovered that hackers have exploited the bug and created a new type of attack.

This is how it works: Hackers set up a website that installs malware when you visit it. If you're tricked into clicking on the website while using the IE, a virus enters your computer and gives a total stranger total control of your computer. And the scary part.... You might not even notice.

The intruder steals your info, gets access to your email, credit card numbers (if you order stuff online) band account numbers, and more. Anyone in control of your computer can spy on everything you do. If it's a PC at work, hackers can reach into anything an employee has access to.

If you are still using Windows XP, the situation is worse because Microsoft no longer supports that operating system with security patches.

If you must use XP, experts suggest disabling the Adobe Flash plugin.

Of course the easiest solution is to just ditch Internet Explorer and use another browser. This attack doesn't affect other Web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox or Apple Safari.

I have used Firefox for years and it is 10x faster than Internet Explorer.

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