On Thursday, technology giant Microsoft released a security patch for the users of its Internet Explorer web browser, in order to better protect them against cyber attacks, similar to those recently reported by Google's China operations.

While releasing the patch, the world's top-ranked software firm said that hackers and cyber criminals have now started to attack Google, and a minimum of 20 other firms across China, mainly because there is vulnerability in its browser.

The new patch, Microsoft said, was "critical" and users should apply it as soon as possible.

Security researcher John Harrison shared that Symantec, the world largest maker of security software, recently discovered that there are viruses floating around, which take advantage of IE's vulnerabilities on about 100 websites.

The viruses found by the company, as has been shared by Mr. Harrison, could only successfully attack IE6, but hackers could any day come up with those that break past the security offered by the latest IE 7 and 8 versions.

The new patch will take care of as many as 8 new vulnerabilities in IE. "We're always working, we have fewer vulnerabilities than our competitors", said Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer

Users who have enabled automatic updating on their IE browsers will not have to take any extra actions to get the security patch, and those who prefer manual updating, as has been confirmed by the company, will be directed to the Microsoft website.