Further to David’s excellent opinion on the recent Internet Explorer vulnerability, I’d like to put forward some additional information for your consideration.

• The recent criticisms of IE were specifically prompted by version 6, although the underlying flaw was present in all subsequent versions as well. IE6 was released in 2001, which makes it a dead set dinosaur in internet years.
• Any windows based computers that have had any patching done in the last few years will have automatically been updated to newer versions of IE, most recently version 8.
• As David details, Microsoft has released an urgent out-of-band security update for IE6, 7 and 8
• All computers covered by a Grassroots IT support agreement will not only have been upgraded from IE6, but will also have had the recent targeted security fix pushed out to them.

For any business concerned about the efficient and secure functioning of their systems, a regular process of patching and updating software is, unfortunately, unavoidable. In this instance the peice of software that has gained the press coverage has been Microsoft IE, but is next time just as likely to be Firefox, MYOB, Adobe Reader, or any other piece of software in common use. Grassroots IT can certainly help with this, but an acceptance and understanding of this will help put the recent press regarding IE in perspective.

I agree that IE6 must be retired, and not before time. But I do suggest a pinch of salt with the recent hyped up press.

Update: Minor edits to clarify the relevance the security flaw to all versions of IE, not just IE6.