Internet Explorer Unsafe For 284 Days In 2006

[george]

Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006

Brian Krebs, lead Computer Security reporter for the Washington Post has released a fascinating study of IE security issues last year.

After compiling security information from leading security watchers, Krebs determined that for 284 days last year there was widely available exploit code available for unpatched IE issues.

For a total 284 days in 2006 (or more than nine months out of the year), exploit code for known, unpatched critical flaws in pre-IE7 versions of the browser was publicly available on the Internet. Likewise, there were at least 98 days last year in which no software fixes from Microsoft were available to fix IE flaws that criminals were actively using to steal personal and financial data from users.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/techn...ex20070104.html

Related:

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/200...big-picture.htm

In a total of ten cases last year, instructions detailing how to leverage "critical" vulnerabilities in IE were published online before Microsoft had a patch to fix them.

In contrast, Internet Explorer's closest competitor in terms of market share -- Mozilla's Firefox browser -- experienced a single period lasting just nine days last year in which exploit code for a serious security hole was posted online before Mozilla shipped a patch to remedy the problem.

--webmasterworld.com 2007-01-17

[sensei]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

Edited January 17, 2007 by sensei

[KK-Mike]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

How do you get Firefox??

Thanks, KK-mike

[Gumballl]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

How do you get Firefox??

Thanks, KK-mike

Go here to get Firefox.

[mbkudu]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

I agree with this. The two don't even remotely compare. I also set up a google mail account which is a really great free email service.

Edited January 18, 2007 by mbkudu

[fxe1200]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

I agree with this. The two don't even remotely compare. I also set up a google mail account which is a really great free email service.

Watch out for Google Mail (gmail), Hotmail and AOL mail programs. Those providers block emails coming from some Thai-IP-Adresses, because they consider this mail automatically as spam. That means, a Thai person using a mail account with a local provider (i.e. maxnet) can send a mail out to you, but you will never receive it!

And I am not bullshitting!

[yeti]

Watch out for Google Mail (gmail), Hotmail and AOL mail programs. Those providers block emails coming from some Thai-IP-Adresses, because they consider this mail automatically as spam. That means, a Thai person using a mail account with a local provider (i.e. maxnet) can send a mail out to you, but you will never receive it!

And I am not bullshitting!

Yes, had the same experience.

[CbrLad]

That's the reason why I am using Firefox.

With No-script and Coockie-safe, Firefox is safer and faster.

Even my spelling got better when version 2 came out! : )

I agree with this. The two don't even remotely compare. I also set up a google mail account which is a really great free email service.

Watch out for Google Mail (gmail), Hotmail and AOL mail programs. Those providers block emails coming from some Thai-IP-Adresses, because they consider this mail automatically as spam. That means, a Thai person using a mail account with a local provider (i.e. maxnet) can send a mail out to you, but you will never receive it!

And I am not bullshitting!

It is not just Thai addresses it is common the world over, and many ISP's subscribe to black lists. For a period of time my Aussie ISP, Ozemail was on the blacklist. The problem is when an ISP leave open the port that used to send email, you know when you configure outgoing to SMPT.xxx.com etc. Spammers can use that to generate spam, thus the ISP gets banned.

[John K]

I use Netscape. Take note that virus and other attacks are all directed at Microsoft.

[gentman]

not using IE is one thing..but most computer are running on MS operating system. any alternative?

[John K]

I use McAfee and also spyware doctor. They complement each other. I feel no one package is safe. McAfee has a good firewall and the other has real time protection on spyware. It also depends where you visit on the web as a lot of the problems come from chat and porn sites.

[Remo]

not using IE is one thing..but most computer are running on MS operating system. any alternative

Well you could use Linux, biggest problems online tend to be the person using the machine, clicking on dodgy links in email,

opening attachments from people they dont know etc.. so if more than one person using a particular computer some internet safety

tips will be some of the best prevention for future problems

As John K said using 2 packages is good idea, I run Nortons which is ok'ish and in the "database" section of the Post yesterday they reccomended another programme I think called Cyberdefender which they raved about, and the advice they give tends to be very good

[Tony Clifton]

Tried Firefox once, discovered tabs

IE has tabs now as well but... too late! :

[Thaising]

Without IE some websites can’t be read, IE browser always bringing in all sorts of craps , that’s why I’m using firefox and zone alarm firewall to prevent those shits.

[kamui]

Without IE some websites can’t be read,

For this there is a Firefox plugin available, which opens IE _inside_ Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/

[SqdnGuns]

Use Linux, no need to worry at all............except the slight learning curve.

[Thaising]

Without IE some websites can’t be read,

For this there is a Firefox plugin available, which opens IE _inside_ Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/

Thanks for the info buddy.

[roblin]

Use Linux, no need to worry at all............except the slight learning curve.

use osx. no learning curve.

[yoshiwara]

also worth trying out opera browser.

nb note that with some sites you are forced to use IE (eg with airline flight bookings) as the site forms have only been maximised for IE, so there is no 100% escape from IE.

[pampal]

Yes Opera is a good alternative to IE.

Mozilla/Firefox is also a good alternative.

If you use either, makes sure you download the plug-ins that enable more features.

[Ch4co]

not using IE is one thing..but most computer are running on MS operating system. any alternative?

Buy an Apple Mac. Problem solved with OSX. After years of putting up with MS Windows, I changed to a Mac, its so wonderful to have an operating system that does what its meant to. Hard to believe Microsoft has been at this for 20+ years and still can't produce a stable and secure OS.

[sensei]

I have both IE7 and Firefox version 2

The ONLY time I used IE was when I googled for and downloaded firefox.

After that IE is history...

Funny, IE7 looks strangely like Firefox...

It's just a few years too late...

[dogleg]

Can I have IE and Firefox on the same machine? and just use whichever more convenient?

If I delete IE do I lose hotmail and msn messenger to?

Cheers all

[sjaak327]

not using IE is one thing..but most computer are running on MS operating system. any alternative?

Buy an Apple Mac. Problem solved with OSX. After years of putting up with MS Windows, I changed to a Mac, its so wonderful to have an operating system that does what its meant to. Hard to believe Microsoft has been at this for 20+ years and still can't produce a stable and secure OS.

I do like MAC OSX as well, I run OSX86, but of course dual boot with WINXP and VISTA, since to be honest I still prefer these two above OSX.

As far as browsers go, I do use Firefox 2, but still prefer IE7.

[sensei]

Can I have IE and Firefox on the same machine? and just use whichever more convenient?

If I delete IE do I lose hotmail and msn messenger to?

Cheers all

You can have more than one browser in your computer.

I have both IE7 and Firefox installed. I didn't uninstall IE7.

Its just sitting there.

MSN Messenger is separate component and Hotmail is an email account.

Neither one would be affected if you uninstall IE.

Edited January 18, 2007 by sensei

[sensei]

for those who just wanna have fun...

try Ghostzilla.

Its a web browser that embeds itself inside the open window for any application.

From a distance, you can be seen burning the midnight candle working on a spreadsheet or a word document, only you will know that inside the boundaries of that seemingly innocent looking program is a browser open...

try it

get it here...

http://www.ghostzilla.com/

[bazmlb]

I use Netscape. Take note that virus and other attacks are all directed at Microsoft.

They are all directed at the most popular browser, once another gets market share it will be targetted, if only 10% of the people were using IE i dont think it would be a target

[Plus]

You can't delete IE - it's an integral part of Windows. You just install any other browser of your choice and use it. IE will always be there in case you really need it.

Apple OS vs Windows - now that you can buy Apple and use Windows on it, it might become popular.

[Bottlerocket]

What does any of this have to do with Thailand News Clippings?

[Plus]

It's very conveniet to discuss news and computers in the same forum. I'd add Motoring as well. And jokes.