INTERNET EXPLORER 5.5 & 6.0 FLAWS

Microsoft has issued a warning that versions of its Internet Explorer browser could leave their personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, exposed.

The flaw in IE 5.5 and 6.0, which the company rated as a "high" risk, could allow an outsider to break into users' cookies -- small electronic files used by websites as a way to store information on hard drives -- and steal or alter information such as email user names, passwords, and credit card numbers.

Microsoft has not released a bug fix as of this time but they are recommending some changes to your browser to protect your personal information. The company's advisory recommends that users disable active scripting in the Internet Zone or the Intranet Zone in the Tools/Internet Options menu.

Here's how to disable scripting in IE 5.5 and 6.0:

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options,

click the Security tab, and then click Custom Level. In the Settings box, scroll down to the Scripting section

and click Disable under "Active scripting" and "Scripting of Java applets."

Click OK, and then click OK again.