Major flaw revealed in Internet Explorer; users urged to switch

[Dark Marmosett]

The major press outlets are abuzz this morning with news of a major new security flaw that affects all versions of Internet Explorer from IE5 to the latest beta of IE8. The attack has serious and far-reaching ramifications -- and they're not just theoretical attacks. In fact, the flaw is already in wide use as a tool to steal online game passwords, with some 10,000 websites infected with the code needed to take advantage of the hole in IE.

Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to switch to any other web browser -- none of the others are affected, including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera -- at least for the time being, though Microsoft has stubbornly said it "cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw." Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to "high" and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state, however, that the fixes do not actually work.)

Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It's now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that's about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?

Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated. (To clarify: You don't need to uninstall IE, just don't use it for the time being.)

Hoax or not? Best to be safe either way.

[Rainbow Dash]

Is this supposed to be news?

[Dark Marmosett]

Nope, its just a friendly warning.

[Rainbow Dash]

Is the warning supposed to be new? If you weren't assuming that there was a constant security breach in IE then you weren't paying attention.

[Dark Marmosett]

It was released yesterday. This is just a recent new find. For those that do play PC games that play online might be worried at least over this. Who knows =p All you play is a few MMORPG's i think.

[horrible]

Who in their right mind plays anything on IE? Firefox = no ads...IE = ass load of ads...Firefox = automation addons...IE = whats au..te..ca..tion? >_>

[Dark Marmosett]

Who in their right mind plays anything on IE? Firefox = no ads...IE = ass load of ads...Firefox = automation addons...IE = whats au..te..ca..tion? >_>
Dunno, those though who might play on steam, might either use IE or FF, it all depends on their entire personal like.

[Setzophone]

Some sites won't work in firefox. The site my college uses for grades, for example. It has to be accessed via IE.

[Rainbow Dash]

It was released yesterday. This is just a recent new find. For those that do play PC games that play online might be worried at least over this. Who knows =p All you play is a few MMORPG's i think.
I play several browser based online games, like Cybernations.

[The Deity]

Great more evidence to try and get my roommate to switch his browsing habits.

[Kaffee]

I dunno understand any of it, I'm using Explorer at the moment and nothing weirds happening.

[Chicken Little]

Was always going to happen, this is merely evolution.

Anyone int he know already knew that MS IE label was a pile of junk, that while it worked was a security nightmare and a hassle of a key process which could force a reinstall on all OS' prior to Vista. This is merely the same old rheatoric (auto complete & input hacking) but insted of using a 3rd party tool (toolbars) to access they are in fact using the source code of IE itself. As it is however people will not change, they'll wait fr the patch / fix for it and then if they get targeted in the mean time cry foul and blame everyone but themselves for waiting.

[Bloozilla]

Some sites won't work in firefox. The site my college uses for grades, for example. It has to be accessed via IE.
And vice versa.

[Setzophone]

And vice versa.

Word.

[jethro]

Ngg, i can't be bothered switching @_@

[The Deity]

Ngg, i can't be bothered switching @_@

Because it requires a whole minute and a half of work.

[Chicken Little]

Because it requires a whole minute and a half of work.

You do realise he is related to lades so that minute and a half is comparable to the end of the world?

[jethro]

Because it requires a whole minute and a half of work.

Nah it would take a bit longer, i have to transfer all my bookmarked websites, can't be bothered and yeah so what if im a bit lazy from time to time...im saving my energy because my pre season training for soccer starts in a few weeks and thats always tough lol

[The Deity]

I think when you download it you can automatically transfer the bookmarks.

[jethro]

I think when you download it you can automatically transfer the bookmarks.

Yeah i downloaded Firefox a while ago and it transferred them but since then i've added many more bookmarks

[Rainbow Dash]

You know, I keep seeing this thread and expecting it to be in the Fake News forum. It's that obvious.

[Miles]

You think it's fake?

It was on Tv. Tv lies, but not quite that badly.

Also, Deity is right...It'd take like a minute or so and would just transfer everything automatically. Heck, I just went for "Chrome" because it was listed up there. (Firefox is my personal browser, so Chrome was the next best thing, since I don't want my family on this browser.)
Took mere minutes and transfered all our bookmarks within seconds.

Looks better than IE...Seems to work faster, doesn't freeze.
This was a smart choice.

I've been meaning to do this all week, but when my dad told me about the security problems with IE...I thought he was making some of it up. It sounded extreme and everyone knows IE has problems...And is just very annoying. (Which is why I NEVER use it.)

But reading this...I figured it's best to switch. My dad doesn't need someone swiping his card details and robbing him blind. I'd rather not put him at such risk.

[The Deity]

Yeah i downloaded Firefox a while ago and it transferred them but since then i've added many more bookmarks

Uninstall and redownload? Time really isn't an excuse

[jethro]

Uninstall and redownload? Time really isn't an excuse

Nggggggggggg, i'll do it later maybe.

Looks better than IE...Seems to work faster, doesn't freeze.
This was a smart choice.

So this Chrome is a good one to use?

[Setzophone]

Nooooo, stay away from Chrome.

[Bloozilla]

Actually you can just reimport bookmarks by going to File > Import... on Firefox.

@Corey: What's wrong with Chrome?

[Miles]

No one in my house has complained so far >.>

All I used to here was "Bloody computer!!" when they used IE...It's been like 24 hours and they're all "Wow. The computer is so much better. what did you do?" <.<

[jethro]

So which one should i use, Firefox or Chrome?

[Chicken Little]

So which one should i use, Firefox or Chrome?

Firefox, unless you enjoy autocompleting from google searches.

[jethro]

Well i've got both now lol

[Nickelback]

These claims on the security vulnerabilities are completely valid and if anyone here is using IE I recommend they jump ship right now.

[Setzophone]

@Corey: What's wrong with Chrome?

Everything typed, posted, or whatever via the chrome browser is owned by Google. It's in the EULA, unless they've revised it here very recently.

[Dark Marmosett]

Everything typed, posted, or whatever via the chrome browser is owned by Google. It's in the EULA, unless they've revised it here very recently.
Exactly this.

Nggggggggggg, i'll do it later maybe.
Typical Lades-esque~ish answer. XP

[jethro]

Lol. I ended up changing so take that :P

[Dark Marmosett]

Lol. I ended up changing so take that :P
It might be possible for lades to change his ways after all =o

either that or you're not closely enough related to him >.>

[Kanaye]

I think when you download it you can automatically transfer the bookmarks.

Correct. There's an option that runs on Firefox's first startup run that asks you if you wish to import your bookmarks from Internet Explorer. Plus you can export those bookmarks as HTML data to use with another browser, if needed.

But this is just another article that clearly demostrates how vulnerable is Internet Explorer, despite having a 85% market share of web browsers. I think it's due to a lack of information that consumers are not aware that there are better browsers than IE. Or just people like Jethro, whom are completely fine with IE and don't feel like upgrading.

Oh, Hollyharp mentioned something about Google Chrome. From my hands-on time with it, it's just another browser with nothing or very little stuff to difference itself from the other browsers on the market right now.

[The Deity]

Lol. I ended up changing so take that

I'm going to take the credit here. Victory for Firefox.