Network: Bytes

Microsoft patches holes in Explorer browser

Microsoft has been busy rushing out code patches to plug a series of security holes discovered last week in its Internet Explorer Web browser. The security flaws, discovered by American university students, could allow unscrupulous Web site operators to send instructions to run programs on an Internet user's computer, damage software on a user's hard drive, or send electronic mail under another name.

A student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass, discovered the first flaw, a second was found by a student at the University of Maryland and a third by students at Massachusetts

Institute of Technology.

Microsoft said it "strongly recommends" that people using Internet Explorer 2.0 or 3.0/3.01 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 install the patch that can be downloaded from its Web site (http:// www.microsoft.com/ie/). Those running Windows 3.0/3.1, Windows NT 3.51 or Macintosh versions of IE are not at risk.

Young programmers sought for IT Olympics

The search is on for Britain's best young programmers, who can win an expenses-paid trip to South Africa and the chance to represent Britain and to compete against students from 60 countries in the International Olympiad in Informatics, to be held in November.

More information is available from the 1997 British Informatics Olympiad Web site (http://www.christs. cam.ac.uk/bio/bio97).