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Microsoft warns of Internet Explorer security flaw

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MrBurns

MrBurns

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If we are advised to use a different browser this must be serious -

Posted 37 minutes ago ABC Web site

Users of the world's most common web browser have been advised to switch to another browser until a serious security flaw has been fixed.

Internet experts say the flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords.

Microsoft is investigating the problem and preparing an emergency software patch to resolve it.

Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users
Click to expand...
 
So you click on a like in MS Outlook and it brings up IE anyway round that besides copy and paste ?
 
It must be a pretty bad hole compared to all the other holes if MSFT are announcing it.

If you set your default browser to Firefox it should cause most things to open up in Firefox. You should also download Spybot and at least inoculate your browsers help secure them.

Firefox has heaps of addons that are created by users that make it a really powerful browser. Take the time to have a look at a few.

My favourites are:
Ubiquity (awesome): http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/08/introducing-ubiquity/
All-in-one-gestures: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/12
Aussie spellcheck: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3099
Smart Bookmarks Bar: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4072

there are hundreds available - have a peruse :)
 
MrBurns said:
So you click on a like in MS Outlook and it brings up IE anyway round that besides copy and paste ?
Click to expand...

Did you set your default system brower to firefox?
If you did that already, check the options in outlook.
If that doesnt work, then its happening because M$ made outlook and they have set it so it always uses IE. They did this with MSN messenger too. I got around the MSN problem by downloading a hack that fixed it up....
 
Yep change FF to default browser in FF settings and all is ok, thanks for all your help everyone:)
 
If this was a genuine thread wouldn't Microsoft have sent out a general alert to all users?

At least once a week a hoax email circulates about killer viruses etc.
The ABC website doesn't elaborate on the source of the suggestion.
 
derty said:
It must be a pretty bad hole compared to all the other holes if MSFT are announcing it.

If you set your default browser to Firefox it should cause most things to open up in Firefox. You should also download Spybot and at least inoculate your browsers help secure them.

Firefox has heaps of addons that are created by users that make it a really powerful browser. Take the time to have a look at a few.

My favourites are:
Ubiquity (awesome): http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/08/introducing-ubiquity/
All-in-one-gestures: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/12
Aussie spellcheck: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3099
Smart Bookmarks Bar: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4072

there are hundreds available - have a peruse :)
Click to expand...

Adblock is another good addon http://adblockplus.org/en/

And if you want to change any settings in FF just type this into the address bar (without the quotations) and hit enter... "about:config"
 
Julia said:
At least once a week a hoax email circulates about killer viruses etc.
The ABC website doesn't elaborate on the source of the suggestion.
Click to expand...

Yeah a lot of those emails have been sent out by spam kings. The purpose of them is to get people to forward the email to everyone, and when you forward an email, the email addresses of everyone you send it to are in the email..eventually the email comes back to the spam king with thousands of peoples email addresses and he starts writing about cheap viagra....
 
Who still uses IE? Has it not been common knowledge for ages that IE has security flaws?

Firefox and Chrome all the way!
 
The latest -

Microsoft scrambles to block IE loophole

Posted 31 minutes ago

Microsoft is releasing an emergency patch to fix a perilous software flaw which allows hackers to hijack Internet Explorer (IE) browsers and take over computers.

The US software giant said that in response to "the threat to customers" it immediately mobilised security engineering teams worldwide to deliver a software cure "in the unprecedented time of eight days".

Researchers at software security firm Trend Micro say attacks based on the vulnerability in the world's most popular web browser are "spreading like wildfire", with millions of computers already compromised.

Microsoft typically releases patches for its software on the second Tuesday of each month and rushing this fix to computer users out-of-cycle is testimony to the severe danger of the threat, according to Trend Micro.

"When the patch is released people should run, not walk, to get it installed," Trend Micro advanced threat researcher Paul Ferguson said.

"This vulnerability is being actively exploited by cyber-criminals and getting worse every day."

Trend Micro has identified about 10,000 websites that have been infected with malicious software that can be surreptitiously slipped into visitors' unprotected IE browsers to take advantage of the flaw.

Hackers can take control of infected computers, steal data, redirect browsers to dubious websites, and use machines for devious activities such as attacks on other networks, according to security specialists.

"What makes this so insidious is it takes advantage of a big gaping hole of IE, which has the largest install base of any browser on the market," Mr Ferguson said.

IE is used on nearly three-quarters of the world's computers, according to industry statistics from November.

- AFP
Click to expand...
 
Where's the friggin' HOME button on chrome !!!

Ok found it under options, you have to tick a box to make it appear.
 
If using IE or Firefox you should be using another source of protection such as:

Spyware Blaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Finjan Vital Security
http://securebrowsing.finjan.com/

These are not anti virus products but are software packages which help protect your browsing with IE and FF.

There are many products out now such as these which may be better.

I use OPERA browser. Far better than FF. My experience with FF is that at times it can be exploitable and have had such experiences.
 
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