PSA - Internet Explorer is not safe to use.

[MazeRat7]

While I doubt many well informed DU'ers are still actually still using Internet Explorer, if you are the experts are urging you to use an alternative browser until this latest security flaw is fixed. While many of us long ago left the fold of Redmond for a more "secure" computing experience, for those that still use MS products at least please use an alternative web browser like Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc, etc...

So as a public service, you have been warned (once again).

Now back to your regularly scheduled discussions...

Peace,
MZr7

A malignant security flaw found in all versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has yet to be fixed, and the problem is spreading. Microsoft detailed the flaw in a security update blog post six days ago. Since then, the problem has spread across the globe, hitting at least 2 million computers.

Unlike other computer exploits, this one does not require users to click on fishy links or download mysterious software: it plagues computers that simply open an infected Web page.

Internet Explorer is currently used by 69 percent of Web surfers. The flaw hides inside the data binding function of the browser and causes IE to quit unexpectedly and reopen vulnerable to prying eyes.

So far most of the attacks have been geographically centered on China and have been used for the purposes of stealing computer game passwords. But with a flaw as gap-toothed as this, the possibilities of nefarious action could include the massive theft of personal information such as administrative computer passwords and financial data.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/16/AR2008121601022.html

Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed.

The flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say.
Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it.
Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7784908.stm

[Warpy]

1. Kick

Oh, and http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

If you don't have it, get it.

[asjr]

3. Is it free?

[Sub Atomic]

4. Yep!

[Mabus]

6. Yes

And so are the add-ons and their e-mail products like Thunderbird.

[Warpy]

10. Would I *ever* link to anything that's not free?

Well, at least without a warning.

I'm cheap but never easy. Yes, it's free.

[asjr]

14. Thanks. I will give myself a Christmas

present.

[alfredo]

16. Here's some free browsers to try.

Opera
http://www.opera.com/
Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Safari
http://www.apple.com/safari/
Chrome
http://www.google.com/chrome
Seamonkey
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

Give em a try and pick the one most pleasing to use.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. I've been using Chrome on Windows XP for the past couple of days.

I'm not exactly a power-user, but it's fast and it gets the job done. It doesn't crash anywhere near as often as Firefox in my (very limited) experience.

[Subdivisions]

2. How can you know if you've been compromised? n/t

[MazeRat7]

9. You can't really.... Here is how it works...

Specifically, the problem occurs when Internet Explorer handles the following html tags:

* img
* script
* embed
* object
* param
* style
* bgsound
* body
* input

If these tags are preceded by the file protocol specification, a remote attacker can access arbitrary local files on a victim's system.

http://www.xdisclose.com/XD100099.txt">The full details are here
Bottom line, this is a flaw that requires you to download nothing, only be running IE.

Peace,
MZr7

[tridim]

13. That doc specifically references IE6.

An old version.

[MazeRat7]

15. That was only the initial bug report... from the articles I posted IE7 is also vulnerable

Microsoft says it has detected attacks against IE 7.0 but said the "underlying vulnerability" was present in all versions of the browser.

Peace,
MZr7

[DonEBrook]

11. It hurts when you pee.

;-)

[Subdivisions]

17. I love these little morsels of

levity! Thanks :D

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I've met a lot of naive computer users that don't know other browsers are free

Or compatible to their computer.

Internet Exploder is also the slowest browser out of almost all of them.

[Kalyke]

18. I find Firefox slower at home.

They're the same on a T-1 line at work, though.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I haven't been able to open IE on my home pc for a while now.

I need a new computer.

[DonEBrook]

12. Auction that puppy on Ebay...lots of people would love to have it!

:D

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. Free Browsers to download

All are free and I think better than IE. Each link gives you info on their browser

Safari for windows: http://www.apple.com/safari/

Mozella (firefox) for windows: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/


Opera: http://www.opera.com/


Google Chrome: http://www.google.com/chrome

[qb]

20. I stopped using IE years ago because of the index.dat file.

It resides on your hard disk and records every web site you have ever visited. You can't reset or delete it without a hack.