BigFix Inc. announced today it has deployed an automated solution to easily help Microsoft users fix the just-announced security vulnerabilities in its popular Microsoft® Internet Explorer® Web browser. Microsoft urges users to download a 2MB fix for old flaws associated with IE 5.01, 5.5, and 6.0 plus, six new ones, including two flaws that the company deems "critical." Microsoft's Security Program Manager Christopher Budd told CNET "two of them are critical because of the possibility of information disclosure." And in a recent AP story, he cautioned users "not to be complacent about downloading the (MSN Messenger) upgrade" that was announced last week.

Savvy Microsoft users are likely to take action and patch security holes immediately after Microsoft announces the availability of a patch. However, many other users, unaware of the existence of the hole or its patch, will not have the benefit of the fix and leave themselves vulnerable to hacker attacks. This is the primary reason why the Internet remains so susceptible to security attacks even when cures are made available, and points to the urgent need for a mass-scale, automated delivery system such as the BigFix system. BigFix, Inc.'s proactive solution automatically alerts affected users within hours of a patch being made available and provides them with a simple, one-click fix to secure their PCs. "One of our customers, eMachines®, is using the BigFix Supplier solution to proactively eliminate problems and vulnerabilities in its user base," said David Hindawi, CEO of BigFix, Inc. "The BigFix Supplier solution enables our customers to proactively neutralize security vulnerabilities in their user base, before a failure or breach occurs."