Microsoft warning over browser security flaw {**again**}

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: BBC

Microsoft has issued a "critical" warning over a newly-discovered flaw in Windows.

In a security advisory, the company warned of a loophole that could be used by malicious hackers to steal private information or hijack computers.

The bug potentially affects every user of the Internet Explorer web browser - around 900 million people worldwide.

Microsoft has issued a software patch to defend against attacks, and said it was working to develop a long-term fix.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12325139

[tabatha]

1. That is why I never use IE

[virgogal]

5. Technically dumb as a rock here. I have Internet Explorer so

how can I avoid using it?

[Joanie Baloney]

7. Try Mozilla Firefox

It works fine for me. :)

Good luck!

[virgogal]

20. Thanks---I thought I had to use what was given to me.

[JohnyCanuck]

8. There are other browsers out there besides Internet Explorer

You just have to download them from a web site and then run the install program as they do not come bundled with the Windows operating system like Internet explorer does.

I use the Firefox browser myself: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/. You can also download a copy of Apple's Safari browser for use on Windows systems too: http://www.apple.com/safari/ . Here is a link with more info on the available alternatives to IE along with the download links:
http://alternativebrowseralliance.com/browsers.html

[virgogal]

21. Thanks so much. Duers always come through and I didn't know

I even had choices.

[Critters2]

10. Download Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome. Links:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

http://www.google.com/chrome

[sofa king]

17. Or Opera.

http://www.opera.com/

I really liked it about ten years ago, but now I don't really know much about it.

Unfortunately, Microsoft makes it so that you have to have some components of IE around, to perform regular updates--which you should also make sure you're doing!

[virgogal]

23. Thanks for that information. I'll have to sleep on all of this (like Meatloaf)

and work on it in the AM.

[virgogal]

22. Thanks so much. Maybe I'll have some "tech talk" to impress my

grandchildren next week.

I will be "Oh so cool". :-)

[UpInArms]

24. Opera

best browser in the internets :D

www.opera.com

[virgogal]

26. Thanks so much------another poster also mentioned Opera .

[cbdo2007]

2. Too bad I don't use a Mac so all the security flaws would be kept quiet.

[EV_Ares]

3. Guess I will keep using Chrome for a while.

[Critters2]

9. Yep. A happy Chrome user here, too. Firefox before that. Haven't used IE in years. nt

[cutlassmama]

13. Same here

[EV_Ares]

14. LOL, you & I are following each other, same here, Firefox before went to Chrome but

out of the three browsers, for me anyway, Chrome is the best. Love the apps, have you checked out The Huffington Post Chrome app.

[pscot]

4. Is there a patch?

[eppur_se_muova]

6. from a link in the BBC article ...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2501696

[pscot]

12. Thanks

I think I'll wait for the regular security update.

[AndyTiedye]

27. Odd that they haven't put this on Windoze Update Yet

Just ran Windoze Update and it didn't have anything for ie.

Not that I actually use ie for browsing, of course,
it's been a security disaster for years. For that matter
so is Windows. I boot Ubuntu except for stuff that won't
work there (swf, most web video).

[Canuckistanian]

11. Microsoft has a browser?

Well, it's about time.

[Paper Roses]

15. To any of you who are computer illiterate like me, just switch to Firefox.

I had all sorts of problems with IE. No problems with Firefox and the transition was easy.
I pestered this board for ages for advice about IE, not any more. My questions are general in nature. Phooey on Microsoft.

[madrchsod]

16. internet explorer?......

netscape-mozzilla,opera,chrome,and safari...i`ve never used ie

[fatbuckel]

18. Don't wait! If you use Internet Explorer download the fix!

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9760419

Save to desktop and run from there.

[ThoughtCriminal]

19. The New Internet Explorer is great

it allows you to download Chrome or Firefox even faster!

[DeSwiss]

29. I saw what you did there.

- You're a riot!!!

K&R

[bhikkhu]

25. one word to that: LINUX

If anybody is tired of Microsoft's crap, I can attest to how easy Ubuntu (the most common linux OS) is to use. Not only easy and free, but there are apparently no viruses written to attack it and no security issues. Not to mention you also have built-in access to mountains of open-source free apps that replace the majority of all the big corporate Windows-compatible apps you have to spend fortunes for.

[Fearless]

28. Granted...

Higher end technologies like BluRay discs and super high-speed internet (esp. wireless) don't work very well on it. And most videos lag if you have less than say 2GB RAM. And photo editing programs in their "mountains of open-source free apps" are all pretty crappy when compared to Photoshop CS3 even.

I will admit that OpenOffice does have a few nice fonts for it however. And if you have a very slow computer that can't handle an XP or a OSX it is dead useful. Very nice indeed for some.

[jimlup]

30. Microsoft is a wonderful example of why capitalism fails

[eilen]

31. Does anyone still use IE? nt

[Rex]

32. Bill needs to fix his crappy OS and leave professionals like teachers

and doctors to do their jobs instead of act like he knows how to fix everything else. Yet he hordes billions and won't fix his OS. Fuck him...move to a mac people. Most people are anyway.