Full FeedInternet Explorer still unsafe
We live in a topsy-turvy world. The very pillars of capitalism are shaking, shadowy wars grip the world, and now Apple has pulled out of Macworld Expo. So now, more than ever, it’s good to know that there are a handful of things on which we can always rely: Internet Explorer has a critical security flaw, and users are being advised to switch to another browser until it’s patched. Or, if they simply want to use the web without hating themselves and all life.
The BBC reports:
Microsoft says it has detected attacks against IE 7.0 but said the “underlying vulnerability” was present in all versions of the browser.
Other browsers, such as Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari, are not vulnerable to the flaw Microsoft has identified.
“In this case, hackers found the hole before Microsoft did,” said Rick Ferguson, senior security advisor at Trend Micro. “This is never a good thing.”
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since the vulnerability was discovered, he said.
This vulnerability—which MS itself says may be in all versions of its browser—simply requires a user to visit a page which contains the malicious code: the user does not have to click on a link, install software, or confirm anything.
Windows users can switch to any number of great browsers, such as Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari for Windows, or Google Chrome. Mac users who are still using Internet Explorer are advised to start punching themselves immediately and to not stop until they lose consciousness.
Read [BBC.com] and then talk loudly about it in Starbucks.
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Bill,
There are two types of people in this world. Anti-Microsoft and everyone else who don’t really care. I wonder which you are?
Incidentally my “robrowser’ that I wrote has much more security flaws in it than IE. I’m wondering why that didn’t make the news… maybe because nobody uses it (see my point).
I actually use all 5 browsers (I stopped using Lynx 16 years ago ;). In my opinion IE still displays pages best (I think because of clear-type) and has the best user interface and is super-quick if you install the open source IE7Pro add-on (see the Wiki). Chrome has a very nice interface too (could be the best soon), in fact I’m using that right now, Safari on the MAC/iPhone is fine and Firefox if you prefer the retro-look or are using Linux. Opera, supposedly the safest and fastest of all (not sure speed against IE7Pro) I just use for testing…
Please say what’s good about something, rather than simply saying what’s bad about everything else.
Rob.
on December 18, 2008 at 12:53 AM - LINKMicrosoft’s tough, Rob. They’ll survive Bill’s jabs.
on December 18, 2008 at 07:48 AM - LINKCall me nuts, but when the most-used web browser made by the world’s biggest software company can leave you vulnerable simply by viewing a web page, I consider that news.
But if I must say something nice about Internet Explorer, I will admit that using it will not cause your dog to explode. Provided you have upgraded to SP2.
on December 18, 2008 at 06:17 PM - LINK