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Internet Explorer update recommended prior to online shopping

Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 10:07 by Graham Miller

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The companies behind the most popular web browsers tend to release regular updates to combat online fraud and patch any vulnerabilities in their software.

However, unless you actually download and install these updates, you could be leaving yourself exposed and unable to truly carry out safe shopping online.

Microsoft has recently released the Windows 8 operating system and the Internet Explorer 10 web browser, but a major update, released for the older IE 9 software, arrived earlier this week to improve security.

Microsoft rated this patch as something which IE 9 users should download and use immediately, because failing to do so could make it easier for malware to take hold of your PC and compromise your personal information.

In general, you will find that using reputable e-commerce retailers will allow you to carry out safe shopping online, even if you have not got a particularly up to date browser.

However, the web can be a dangerous place and even browsing fairly innocuous looking sites can land you in hot water, because malicious software will find a way onto your computer, often without even alerting you to its presence.

This means that the next time you enter personal details, your actions could be tracked and this information could be passed on to a third party, where it might be exploited for identity theft and other types of fraud.

It is now relatively easy to update web browsers, particularly if you are using Firefox or Chrome, as these have well integrated patching solutions.

You should generally avoid using older versions of Internet Explorer if you can help it, because Microsoft tends to stop supporting them at some point and all of the best security measures will be featured on the more modern solutions.