If you’ve ignored the almost continuous advice of IT experts over the last decade or so, and are still using Internet Explorer for web browsing, you should stop what you’re doing and install a new security update, just released by Microsoft.

The update fixes a critical vulnerability (CVE-2019-1367) in IE 9, 10, and 11 that could allow a remote attacker to execute code on your computer, if they are able to trick you into visiting a specially-crafted web page.

Even if you don’t actively use IE, if it’s installed on your Windows computer (and it almost always is), you may run it accidentally, or it may become the default web browser because of another Microsoft update. In other words, everyone running Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 needs to install the fix, which exists in several different versions, each for a specific combination of Windows version and IE version (as outlined in Microsoft’s related security bulletin).

For example, on my main Windows computer, on which I run 64-bit Windows 8.1 and IE 11, the relevant update is designated 4522007.

These updates are not available via Windows Update. To install the update for your computer, follow the appropriate link in the security bulletin. Eventually you’ll end up at the Microsoft Update Catalog. Locate the update you want, then click the Download button to begin.