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Security flaw alleged

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp. is investigating claims that its popular Internet Explorer software has a loophole that lets attackers pose as legitimate website operators, potentially giving them access to computer users' names, passwords and credit card numbers.

Although Microsoft said it's too soon to judge the severity of the problem -- and even whether the flaw exists -- some programmers and consultants said it could threaten the security of everything from online banking to Web-based commerce.

The problem is "fairly serious," said Elias Levy, a member of software security company Symantec Corp.'s security response team. He said that the complexity involved makes the probability of widespread attacks unlikely.

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