Fresh concerns have been raised over the security of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser.

The warning comes from French government agency Certa, which said that pending a patch to update Internet Explorer, it recommends using a different browser.

This is the latest blow to Microsoft, following on from the German government’s similar recommendation that internet users should switch to an alternative browser.

The American software giant has already admitted that a weak link in its programme was used by internet hackers in China to gain access to the Google email accounts belonging to human rights activists.

Google is now considering its position in the country following the attack and is expected to hold talks with the Chinese government in the near future.

Speaking to the BBC however, Microsoft’s head of security, Cliff Evans, described the risk as “minimal” and said IE8 is “the most secure browser on the internet”.

He added that so far there have only been cases of malicious code targeting older versions of the software.

Microsoft is now working on a patch to cure the problems, but a release date has not been issued.