Microsoft Plans to Wipe Out Malware-Prone Web Browser

Microsoft Corp. plans an update next month to remove copies of Internet Explorer 6, an older version of its Web browser that has "more security holes than Swiss cheese," MSNBC.com reported Thursday.

The Microsoft update will install the latest Internet Explorer version available on computers where Windows is set to automatically install updates, the article said. In a blog post, Microsoft cited security concerns as a catalyst for this move. A significant number of malicious programs, such as those that steal banking credentials, specifically target the vulnerabilities of older Web browsers and other outdated software.

More than 8% of the world uses Internet Explorer 6, which was released a decade ago, MSNBC reported. Microsoft's goal is to reduce IE6 usage to less than 1%. Microsoft's update will initially affect users in Australia and Brazil.