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Web users should not use Internet Explorer if they want to protect their security, the German government has warned.
Microsoft has rejected the warning from Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, which came after the browser was identified as the point of entry for recent cyber attacks on Google.
According to BBC News, Microsoft said that changing the browser’s security setting to ‘high’ prevented any serious risk, however, this causes many websites to be blocked.
The next scheduled patch for Internet Explorer is not due until next month but a Microsoft spokesperson told the BBC that the firm was working to fix the problem.
Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that the attacks were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda" and "not attacks against general users or consumers."
"There is no threat to the general user, consequently we do not support this warning," he added.
German authorities have reportedly said that even increased security on Internet Explorer would not make it safe.
Microsoft has admitted that all editions of its browser are affected, but that the risk is smaller with more recent versions.
