Windows, IE patches needed to prevent potential criminal attacks, company says. BOSTON — Microsoft issued one of its biggest-ever security fixes on Tuesday, including repairs to its ubiquitous Windows operating system and Internet Explorer browser for flaws that could let hackers take control of a PC.  (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and...

ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley thinks she stumbled upon the user interface for Internet Explorer 9, spying a screenshot on Microsoft Russia’s press website. If this is the real deal, the next IE will look like the lovechild of Google Chrome and Firefox 4. From Firefox 4, IE9 reportedly takes the oversized back button, translucent window and tremendous amount of...