Feds warn against Internet Explorer

1 Jul, 2004 at 5:43pm ET Article published in Tech

The U.S Computer Emergency Readiness Team, known as CERT, issued a “vulnerability note” saying that computer users should not use the Internet Explorer browser because of security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to launch attacks on personal computers and corporate networks.

CERT is suggesting that computer users take steps such as applying security updates to Outlook e-mail programs and maintaining antivirus software, and using alternative Web browsers.

Source: CBS

Comments

1 Jul 2004 ~ 5:49pm TheBaron HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

*dies laughing*
2 Jul 2004 ~ 5:44am bothered I've seen a few things like this about IE. How secure is it? What are the alternatives like? I've always used IE and outlook and never really had any problems with them.
2 Jul 2004 ~ 9:41am GHoosdum Firefox is a pretty nice alternative. It's got a few display strangeitudes, but it is more secure.
2 Jul 2004 ~ 10:06am Cyclonite Ditto. I was a long time IE user. I just neer liked the other browser setups. I switched to Firefox about a week ago, and I absolutely love it.
2 Jul 2004 ~ 10:08am EyesOnly Opera
3 Jul 2004 ~ 1:40pm Spinner Not that I have anything against alternative browsers, in fact I whole heartily support the added competition against Microsoft, but I honestly don't believe IE is any worse security wise than any other browser available. I have no reason not to believe this. I'm not really up will how all the other browsers are so seriously please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It's just like with Windows XP, it's the latest Microsoft OS used by the majority of home users, so it's targeted by pretty much everybody, hence everybody running around flapping their arms every time a hole is discovered. Windows XP is not a particularly insecure OS, it's a targetted OS.

On the same lines as XP, IE is one of the most used browsers on the planet, and yes, it needs to be secure, but if Opera or Firefox for example held the same position in the statistics would it hold up any better security wise?

IE is without a doubt the lard browser, it's more bloated than a hot air balloon and has its limitations, but is it the most insecure browser? I'm not convinced.

Nevertheless, Microsoft should get their butt's into gear and fix these exploits. Just my thoughts.
3 Jul 2004 ~ 2:49pm bothered That'll do me then mate. I'll stick with it, I'm used to it.