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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by alsbabar on Dec 16, 2008 13:05:22 GMT 1, 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.
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation of public reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer," said the firm in a security advisory alert about the flaw.
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.
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since last week to take advantage of the security flaw, said antivirus software maker Trend Micro.
The websites have been mostly serving up programs that steal computer game passwords, but the flaw could be "adopted by more financially motivated criminals", a Trend Micro security researcher said on Monday.
MICROSOFT SECURITY ADVICE Change IE security settings to high (Look under Tools/Internet Options) Switch to a Windows user account with limited rights to change a PC's settings With IE7 or 8 on Vista turn on Protected Mode Ensure your PC is updated Keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date
Richard Cox, chief information officer of anti-spam body The Spamhaus Project and an expert on privacy and cyber security, echoed Trend Micro's warning.
"It won't be long before someone reverse engineers this exploit for more fraudulent purposes. Trend Mico's advice [of switching to an alternative web browser] is very sensible," he said.
PC Pro magazine's security editor, Darien Graham-Smith, said that there was a virtual arms race going on, with hackers always on the look out for new vulnerabilities.
"The message needs to get out that this malicious code can be planted on any web site, so simple careful browsing isn't enough."
"It's a shame Microsoft have not been able to fix this more quickly, but letting people know about this flaw was the right thing to do. If you keep flaws like this quiet, people are put at risk without knowing it."
"Every browser is susceptible to vulnerabilities from time to time. It's fine to say 'don't use Internet Explorer' for now, but other browsers may well find themselves in a similar situation," he added.
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.
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation of public reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer," said the firm in a security advisory alert about the flaw.
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.
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since last week to take advantage of the security flaw, said antivirus software maker Trend Micro.
The websites have been mostly serving up programs that steal computer game passwords, but the flaw could be "adopted by more financially motivated criminals", a Trend Micro security researcher said on Monday.
MICROSOFT SECURITY ADVICE Change IE security settings to high (Look under Tools/Internet Options) Switch to a Windows user account with limited rights to change a PC's settings With IE7 or 8 on Vista turn on Protected Mode Ensure your PC is updated Keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date
Richard Cox, chief information officer of anti-spam body The Spamhaus Project and an expert on privacy and cyber security, echoed Trend Micro's warning.
"It won't be long before someone reverse engineers this exploit for more fraudulent purposes. Trend Mico's advice [of switching to an alternative web browser] is very sensible," he said.
PC Pro magazine's security editor, Darien Graham-Smith, said that there was a virtual arms race going on, with hackers always on the look out for new vulnerabilities.
"The message needs to get out that this malicious code can be planted on any web site, so simple careful browsing isn't enough."
"It's a shame Microsoft have not been able to fix this more quickly, but letting people know about this flaw was the right thing to do. If you keep flaws like this quiet, people are put at risk without knowing it."
"Every browser is susceptible to vulnerabilities from time to time. It's fine to say 'don't use Internet Explorer' for now, but other browsers may well find themselves in a similar situation," he added.
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by Guest on Dec 16, 2008 13:08:36 GMT 1, Good info Als, does anyone still use IE ?
Good info Als, does anyone still use IE ?
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darrenrapley
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,858
Likes โข 229
June 2008
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by darrenrapley on Dec 16, 2008 13:09:22 GMT 1, Google Chrome for me. Much much much quicker
Google Chrome for me. Much much much quicker
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frank11
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,190
Likes โข 2
September 2006
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by frank11 on Dec 16, 2008 13:11:49 GMT 1, Cheers for the heads up ALs
Cheers for the heads up ALs
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by Guest on Dec 16, 2008 13:14:47 GMT 1, does anyone still use IE ? unbelievable it's still the most popular browser by far!!
I thought Firefox had overtaken IE, maybe will now.
does anyone still use IE ? unbelievable it's still the most popular browser by far!! I thought Firefox had overtaken IE, maybe will now.
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dmandpenfold
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,466
Likes โข 10
December 2006
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by dmandpenfold on Dec 16, 2008 13:19:00 GMT 1, Good info Als, does anyone still use IE ?
i always use it, it loads pages faster than firefox (on my computer) and the forum works properly on it, when i use firefox the banksy image at the top of the page and the links inlcuding the mailbox link disappear, dont know why
I have google chrome loaded, it seems okay but was reported to have security issues too.
as far as IE goes, i've never had a problem, got prints i wanted in past f5 races and never suffered a security drama that wasnt of my own making
Good info Als, does anyone still use IE ? i always use it, it loads pages faster than firefox (on my computer) and the forum works properly on it, when i use firefox the banksy image at the top of the page and the links inlcuding the mailbox link disappear, dont know why I have google chrome loaded, it seems okay but was reported to have security issues too. as far as IE goes, i've never had a problem, got prints i wanted in past f5 races and never suffered a security drama that wasnt of my own making
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by Guest on Dec 16, 2008 13:20:07 GMT 1, Im on a mac, so I.E is not an option for me.
Im on a mac, so I.E is not an option for me.
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by alsbabar on Dec 16, 2008 23:49:42 GMT 1, bump for the knowledge
bump for the knowledge
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jonnyx
New Member
Posts โข 694
Likes โข 151
May 2007
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by jonnyx on Dec 17, 2008 16:34:07 GMT 1, ((((camino)))) on a mac. very happy with it.
((((camino)))) on a mac. very happy with it.
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chablis
New Member
Posts โข 676
Likes โข 166
January 2008
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by chablis on Dec 18, 2008 11:01:41 GMT 1, The patch is now available for this
support.microsoft.com/kb/960714
I would highly recommend getting this sorted asap if you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
The patch is now available for this support.microsoft.com/kb/960714I would highly recommend getting this sorted asap if you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
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dmandpenfold
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,466
Likes โข 10
December 2006
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OT: Serious Security Issues with Internet Explorer, by dmandpenfold on Dec 18, 2008 11:04:51 GMT 1, nice, good heads up chablis
nice, good heads up chablis
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