Microsoft releases Internet Explorer security patch, even for Windows XP

We’ve covered the end of support for Windows XP in detail. The iconic iteration of Microsoft’s OS has been around for over a decade and still powers over 25 percent of all PCs in the world despite the fact that Microsoft has killed support for it. Recently the company issued a security warning for a vulnerability found in older versions of internet explorer. To plug it Microsoft is going to release one last, albeit very important, security patch for Windows XP.

It’s been the better part of a week since Microsoft revealed that virtually every single version of its Internet Explorer web browser was vulnerable to a particularly nasty attack, one so scary that U.S. Homeland Security recommended people not to use the browser until the hole is patched. Now, it is: Microsoft will deliver the patch for all versions of Internet Explorer on Thursday (including Windows RT). Windows XP, which Microsoft discontinued support for on April 8, will get a patch, too. If you have automatic updates turned on, you won’t need to take any action to get the security patch. The news should cheer consumers, Homeland Security and the millions of stubborn Windows XP users around the world.