Microsoft warn ‘Freak’ encryption bug could put millions of users at risk

WATCH out. Software giant Microsoft has issued a security warning claiming million of people may be at risk of losing data.

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IF you think your online communications are secure, you should think again.

Microsoft has issued a security warning about a bug, FREAK, that could let attackers spy on your data.

Discovered by encryption and security expert Karthikeyan Bhargavan, the bug uses software to encrypt data passing between web servers and web users.

The computer giant suggests millions may be at risk of losing data.

A working group established to monitor the bug estimates that 9.5 per cent of the web’s most popular websites could be vulnerable to attacks.

Initially, it was thought the bug would only affect users of BlackBerry and Android phones, and those searching through Apple’s Safari web browser.

However, in a statement released last week, Microsoft said it “affects all supported releases of Microsoft Windows”.

In the same release, Microsoft offered a number of solutions to remove the vulnerability from some of its software.

However, they added that other programs might encounter “serious problems” as a result of running the fix.

Microsoft are continuing to work on a separate security update to remove the bug.

If you are concerned and want to take actions to protect yourself, view detailed workarounds available here.