Heartbleed-Like Security Flaw Affects Internet Explorer

It seems that everyone is talking about the security flaw that has alarmed popular websites. Ever since it was discovered, Heartbleed has been the reason that led to serious cyber attacks. If you are not familiar with it, Heartbleed is a security flaw (a sort of virus) through which cyber criminals can steal personal data, like credit card information, over the internet. A Heartbleed hacker has already been caught but authorities warn that there will be other attacks until the bug is fixed and the websites update their security.

What’s even more alarming is that Heartbleed seems to have paved the way for other online threats. The latest news say that a Heartbleed-like security affects Internet Explorer. Microsoft is already rushing to fix this bug after it has been discovered by a web security company this weekend. Apparently, hackers have already taken advantage of the Heartbleed-like security flaw and have attacked several American companies.

The 13-year-old operating system, Windows XP, has stopped receiving support from Microsoft earlier this month and it seems that computers running on this OS will not receive updates when they are released that will help fix the bug. If you’re wondering “are people still using Windows XP?”, the answer is that about 15 to 55% of PCs around the world still run on Windows XP.

Microsoft said on Saturday that they are planning to fix the Heartbleed-like security flaw which they said has affected important Internet Explorer versions, from Internet Explorer 6 to 11. These versions are the most used versions of desktops and they account for 55% of the PC browsers.

FireEye Inc. , a cybersecurity software developer said that there is a group of hackers that are using the new bug and exploit it in a campaign called “Operation Clandestine Fox”. FireEye does not want to disclose any company names that have been victims to the hackers’ attacks because they are still investigating the issue as we speak.

FireEye representative Vito De Souza explained that “It’s a campaign of targeted attacks seemingly against U.S.-based firms, currently tied to defense and financial sectors. It’s unclear what the motives of this attack group are, at this point. It appears to be broad-spectrum intel gathering.” He didn’t want to disclose anything else but he advised that in order to protect against any potential online threats, user should change to a different web browser.

Heartbleed-Like Security Flaw Affects Internet Explorer – is this the beginning of something bigger?

We advise that you should be very careful and update all your important passwords on all your important sites in order to avoid any serious inconveniences.