MILLIONS of computers across the globe are threatened by a virus that could open them up to criminals, allowing access to personal details.

A major security flaw has been discovered in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser, which is used by 70 per cent of all computers, the Daily Mail reports. 

There are fears that cyber criminals will exploit the flaw to steal passwords, access internet bank accounts, or send out spam e-mails. 

Some two million computers are believed to have fallen victim after visiting apparently safe websites, but the contagion threatens to sweep the world wide web. 

Effectively, Trojan horse viruses are being injected into the software of millions of computers, allowing criminals to remotely access and operate them as if they were their own. 

Hackers in China are at the centre of the cyber attack, which is the most serious in the history of Microsoft's operating system. 

As many as 10,000 websites sites have already been compromised to take advantage of the flaw, according to anti-virus software producer Trend Micro. 

So far the hackers have used the technology to steal computer game passwords which can be sold on the black market in the Far East. 

The events are known as 'Zero day' attacks because they are exploiting a problem in the Internet Explorer(IE) software which has existed from the day it was launched.

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