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Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a riva

Renae

Renae

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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.
Click to expand...
BBC NEWS | Technology | Serious security flaw found in IE

PSA PSA PSA

Don't use IE!!!
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

LOL, they figured it out just NOW? IE has been getting hacked since its invention!
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

While I'm definitely on the anti-Microsoft bandwagon, I really don't think this is entirely IE's fault. This vulnerability only manifests itself if the user clicks on a malicious link, which can expose vulnerabilities in any browser. IE gets a bad rap because it's the most widely used browser, and its widespread use is the reason hackers focus on its vulnerabilities.

I think Trend Micro's advice of switching browsers is misplaced. Switching to another browser treats the symptom, not the problem. The problem is - users clicking on links without checking (or knowing how to check) the integrity of the link first. Everyone needs to know how to determine the URL that a link points to before clicking it, and ways to recognize if the URL might be malicious.

IE and Firefox both have a status bar at the very bottom, which usually says "Done," but also displays the page loading progress when a page is first coming up. Pointing at (but not clicking on) a hyperlink will usually display the URL that the link will take you to if you click it. If the URL contains a direct IP address (like http://123.45.67.89...) don't click it! If the URL ends with an executable file extension (.exe, .bat, .scr, etc.) don't click it unless you know the link is supposed to download an executable file. If the status bar doesn't update when you point at the link, then right-click the link and go to Properties. That will display the link's destination URL, and then the above rules apply.

DNS hacks can take a legitimate hostname (like www.somewhere.com) and cause it to redirect to their own server that will serve up a malicious page instead of the one you expected. (That's what happened to Comcast a couple months ago). When you're doing online banking or credit card purchases, be aware if the site will intentionally redirect you to a 3rd-party site for the secure operation (there will be a disclaimer). Pay attention to the URL in your address bar and take note if you've been unexpectedly redirected away from the domain you were just at. And when entering your credit card number, make sure the address bar has a yellow background and/or a lock icon that indicates you have an SSL connection to the server. When you're done, explicitly log out via the page's Logout link, then close your browser.

Having said all that, drop IE like a bad habit and get Firefox already!
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

I know people do, and I thought that this was worth making a big deal over. I use FF or Chrome.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

I've used firefox since it was invented... unfortunately, Windows Vista comes with IE and you can't remote it. Microsoft's OS is truly becoming a dump.

I would like to switch to Linux but I don't know much about it, or if it's compatible with the laptop I'm on. Any ideas?
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

I would like to switch to Linux but I don't know much about it, or if it's compatible with the laptop I'm on. Any ideas?
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\

What sort of laptop is it? Linux is nice because you get much better stability and security, plus nearly every distro is 100% free. Ubuntu is probably the best distribution for the new user to linux. However, there are some things you should be aware of. Not all hardware will work, simply because some manufacturers are stupid enough to hide the specs for their devices and hoard drivers. Furthermore, you have to be able to install the OS yourself. Installing linux is no harder than installing windows (even easier sometimes) but most people buy machines with the OS pre-installed so they don't really know how to do it.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Hopefully if "Santa" is nice I'll be going Apple shortly, hasta la VISTA baby.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Yikes. I use IE. But I'm pretty much computer illiterate, anyone know how to actually get a new browser? Go to the store and buy one I suppose?
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Firefox ftw

It's free
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Why the hell is anybody using IE? Do they just enjoy being miserable?

When it was just IE and one or two other choices, I could understand thinking you only had the one choice, but it's two thousand goddamn eight. There's just no excuse anymore.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Cai said:
Firefox ftw

It's free
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I truly have no idea what makes this better, but if the peoplez on the interwebz say so it must be true, right?
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

This post was made using Mozilla Foxfire.

wow that was a fast download
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Been using Firefox since it came out. Haven't touched IE in about 7 years. I also use Safari at times.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

RightOfCenter said:
Thanks.

I truly have no idea what makes this better, but if the peoplez on the interwebz say so it must be true, right?
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

RightOfCenter said:
This post was made using Mozilla Foxfire.

wow that was a fast download
Click to expand...

It looks so much better ;)
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

I use Firefox but I hate that it won't let Realplayer copy Youtube videos anymore. If I want the videos have to use the IE.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

winston53660 said:
They don't have it for Mac yet :(
Click to expand...

There is a reason for that... Mac sucks ;)

Not really, I just cannot stand em. I'm a gamer, Mac's aren't supported by most games I want to play.. thus mac sucks! I used to do Tech support for my old man, but he went and bought a mac cause Limbaugh has a mac and is always talking big things about it.

So I don't do tech support for him anymore.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

sazerac said:
I use Firefox but I hate that it won't let Realplayer copy Youtube videos anymore. If I want the videos have to use the IE.
Click to expand...

1. Paste the javascript into a bookmark

2. Go to the youtube video you want to download

3. Click your newly created bookmark

4. Click the newly generated link 'Download as mp4'

Code: 
javascript:if%20(document.getElementById('download-youtube-video')==null%20&&%20!!(document.location.href.match(/http:\/\/[a-zA-Z\.]*youtube\.com\/watch/)))%20{var%20yt_mp4_path='http://www.youtube.com/get_video?fmt=18&video_id='+swfArgs['video_id']+'&t='+swfArgs['t'];%20var%20div_embed=document.getElementById('watch-embed-div');if(div_embed){var%20div_download=document.createElement('div');div_download.innerHTML='<br%20/>%20<span%20id=\'download-youtube-video\'><a%20href=\''+yt_mp4_path+'\'>Download%20as%20MP4</a>%20'+%20%20((navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Safari')!=-1)?'(control-click%20and%20select%20<i>Download%20linked%20file%20as</i>)':('(right-click%20and%20select%20<i>Save%20'+%20(navigator.appName=='Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer'?'target':'link')%20+'%20as)</i>'))+'</span>';div_embed.appendChild(div_download);}}void(0);
Click to expand...
 
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Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

MrVicchio said:
There is a reason for that... Mac sucks ;)

Not really, I just cannot stand em. I'm a gamer, Mac's aren't supported by most games I want to play.. thus mac sucks! I used to do Tech support for my old man, but he went and bought a mac cause Limbaugh has a mac and is always talking big things about it.

So I don't do tech support for him anymore.
Click to expand...

Being a photographer I had to go with Mac;)

I just recently went digi and am on my first Mac. I reAlly do like it alot. But I do see what you are saying about being a gamer.
 
Re: Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a

Apple products suck in general. Overpriced semi average to crappy technology. Only thing they have going for them is a big fan base (people are strange) and a design image that they are cool... much like the luxuary brands like Bang and Olafsun, who sell their products based on design and image, but the tech inside is Sony and Phillips.

You can get faster, better products from other vendors for any and all Apple products.

I-Phone.. rip off. Samsung, LG and Sony were out with similar tech long before Apple, and it was better, and not bound to some service provider that was ripping you off.

Powerbooks and what not.. can get the same stuff cheaper from almost anyone, and it can run far far more applications.

I-Pod... worst piece of crap every. Overpriced and far far too closed a system.

The list goes on.

As for browsers. People use IE because it is already installed and easy (people are lazy after all), which is why 70% of the market is IEs. Now is IE superior to Firefox or the other browsers out there? Yes and no. 99% of all websites are made for IE, which means that if a browser does not exactly replicate what IE does then the page is unusable. Netscape and Mozilla found this out the hard way, and only after Mozilla changed their technogeek arrogant attitudes and started to use IE standards as "standards" instead of the industry - Microsoft "accepted" standards, did Firefox really take off.

I remember when Mozilla was up and coming.. it could not open most fancy websites, because they websites were programmed with IE in mind and the mozilla geeks hated Microsoft and refused to adopt "Microsoft standards" because they were not industry accept standards. I remember debating with such a geek, and he actually refused to visit or use websites that did not comply with industry accepted non mircosoft standards.. yes he did not do much surfing because of that and man he was pissed when his bank went over to webbased banking instead of a program.... But attitudes changed thankfully and now we have Firefox which is stable and good and can open most pages without too many problems.

But because IE is still the dominant browser, and it is integrated so much in Windows, then the chance of a problem is greater. Hackers don't look per say for faults in opera because so few people use it and Vista and XP can if configured correctly, isolate Opera from doing anything "harmful".. , and those that do use it are usually geeks like me, and they know how to protect themselves.

Remember the people who exploit this stuff, are the same people who make people like my father (a non geek) press yes when he should press no on a pop up saying he has a virus... and they use IE and always have. Try making them change browser... about as big chance of that as asking them to switch to linux or using open office instead of Microsoft office.
 
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