Microsoft To Disable Internet Explorer 11 VBScript Closing Major Security Loophole

Microsoft is moving to make computer users safer and to help eliminate the risk associated with exploits that rely on VBScript for older versions of Windows. The software giant has announced that in the next Patch Tuesday, which happens on August 13, 2019, it will move forward with its plan to axe VBScript. After the update is applied, VBScript will be disabled by default on Internet Explorer 11 for pre-Windows 10 machines.

The disabling of VBScript will roll out via cumulative updates for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. The move is a good thing for Windows users as VBScript is the preferred target of many hackers. VBScript has been around for a long time surfacing in 1996 as a scripting language for web developers before Google was even a thing.

Microsoft had stated that VBScript and ActiveX was no longer necessary because JavaScript is supported by all major browsers out there. Microsoft's first steps is eliminating VBScript came in 2017 when it deprecated the programming language as part of its years-long effort aimed at removing legacy tech from its software.

Internet Explorer 11 allowed VBScript in specific document modes, but Microsoft Edge never supported VBScript. Microsoft had previously disabled VBScript by default in IE11 on Windows 10 machines via an update that was sent out in July. The new update later this month will do the same thing on older versions of Windows.

This move will close a big window that hackers have used to steal data; this was the language that the hacker used to scrape 100 million credit card details from Target customers years ago.