Microsoft defends IE vulnerability

Microsoft is busy defending claims people should abandon Internet Explorer after a flaw in version 6 of the browser was revealed as a factor in last week's hack of Google's systems.

The Redmond giant today issued a statement stating that it "strongly recommends" that customers using Internet Explorer 6 or 7 "upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 as soon as possible".

"Microsoft also recommends that customers using Windows XP SP2 upgrade to Windows XP SP3," it said.

Microsoft recommended that those wishing to stay on IE 6 or 7 adjust security settings to "high" until a security patch was issued.

"Our teams are working around the clock worldwide to develop a security update for broad distribution to address this vulnerability," Microsoft said.

"We will advise as soon as this update becomes available."

The statement came as the software giant defended reports on its Australian Twitter account suggesting the Australian Federal Government had issued a warning that people risked having their computers infiltrated and passwords stolen unless they installed temporary fixes or used alternative browsers. The warning was later revealed to be a routine bug report.

"The government has not recommended against IE," a Microsoft Twitter message said.

"There seems to be some confused reporting," another Tweet read.

The software giant was also forced to defend itself after French and German authorities started urging their citizens to use an alternative browser until the flaw was fixed.