Microsoft warns of serious security hole affecting Internet Exp...

Microsoft Corp. has taken the rare step of warning about a serious computer security vulnerability it hasn't fixed yet.

[hope]

Who in their right mind would open spam in the first place? People--use your brains! Don't open any spam!

[Kelly7]

Most problems can be avoided by using common sense.

[Sober Dude]

Notice that this virus "...affects a part of its software used to play video..." and that "...Thousands of sites have been hacked to serve up malicious software ..."

These are almost certainly porn sites. I am also not so sure that the sites are "hacked" either. I think that these webmaters are in on it.

The Internet is an ugly, scary place.

[mjm]

BUY A MAC! I did, 2 yrs. ago, and haven't had a problem since. I don't even need an anti virus.

[Dennis Mac]

Sober Dude wrote:

Notice that this virus "...affects a part of its software used to play video..." and that "...Thousands of sites have been hacked to serve up malicious software ..."
These are almost certainly porn sites. I am also not so sure that the sites are "hacked" either. I think that these webmaters are in on it.
The Internet is an ugly, scary place.

The internet is public toilet. If you use it, you have to protect yourself, that's all.

[idlemyndz]

Dennis Mac wrote:

<quoted text>
The internet is public toilet. If you use it, you have to protect yourself, that's all.

That's why I use Firefox!

[Kelly7]

Dennis Mac wrote:

<quoted text>
The internet is public toilet. If you use it, you have to protect yourself, that's all.

That's why I line my keyboard and mouse with toilet paper!

[Another View]

mjm wrote:

BUY A MAC! I did, 2 yrs. ago, and haven't had a problem since. I don't even need an anti virus.

Umm...if everyone bought Macs, then the hackers might target them, rendering your Mac purchase wasted. You should instead be telling everyone to buy a PC.

[Dennis Mac]

idlemyndz wrote:

<quoted text>
That's why I use Firefox!

I switched to Firefox when it first came out, and I lever looked back!

I keep IE also on the machine, b/c it's required to download from MS websites.

I've tried every beta version of IE, and currently have IE8. It's slow to launch, slow to refresh, way harder to use, bookmarks stink, limited addons, etc.

Firefox has it all over IE!

[Sound Reasoning]

Another View wrote:

Umm...if everyone bought Macs, then the hackers might target them, rendering your Mac purchase wasted. You should instead be telling everyone to buy a PC.

Very good point.

[David-1206]

USE Firefox !!

[Sober Dude]

Dennis Mac wrote:

<quoted text>
I switched to Firefox when it first came out, and I lever looked back!
I keep IE also on the machine, b/c it's required to download from MS websites.
I've tried every beta version of IE, and currently have IE8. It's slow to launch, slow to refresh, way harder to use, bookmarks stink, limited addons, etc.
Firefox has it all over IE!

Trust me... there are specific exploits for Firefox as well. The difference is that, due to such a low percentage of the browser market, they are a non-issue. Add in the fact that the majority of people using Firefox are more "tech savvy" and are less likely to click on such links,

Additionally, Microsoft goes out of their way to make these public and regularly patch IE. This is definitely NOT true of other browsers.

If you prefer one browser over another, that's just what it is... a preference.

[Raeven]

Sober Dude wrote:

<quoted text>
Trust me... there are specific exploits for Firefox as well. The difference is that, due to such a low percentage of the browser market, they are a non-issue. Add in the fact that the majority of people using Firefox are more "tech savvy" and are less likely to click on such links,
Additionally, Microsoft goes out of their way to make these public and regularly patch IE. This is definitely NOT true of other browsers.
If you prefer one browser over another, that's just what it is... a preference.

I always receive regular updates to Firefox. Same with all the wonderful add-ons you can get like the Ad-blocker and last pass, etc.

[Kelly7]

Geez, I'm so used to using IE that I never really bothered with Firefox - which is also available on my computer here. I guess I'll check it out tomorrow.

[kathy65]

Kelly7 wrote:

<quoted text>
That's why I line my keyboard and mouse with toilet paper!

Just took notice of your new pic of the dog...is this the pup...grown and you were finally able to get a nice one???? Beautiful!

[Dennis Mac]

Sober Dude wrote:

<quoted text>
Trust me... there are specific exploits for Firefox as well. The difference is that, due to such a low percentage of the browser market, they are a non-issue. Add in the fact that the majority of people using Firefox are more "tech savvy" and are less likely to click on such links,
Additionally, Microsoft goes out of their way to make these public and regularly patch IE. This is definitely NOT true of other browsers.
If you prefer one browser over another, that's just what it is... a preference.

The browser "market" cannot be determined directly. IE is Packaged with the OS, while Firefox is freeware.

Firefox does have an auto-update function, which provides any security patches or updates needed, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

Maybe you're not one of the "tech savvy" users.

[Sober Dude]

Dennis Mac wrote:

<quoted text>
The browser "market" cannot be determined directly. IE is Packaged with the OS, while Firefox is freeware.
Firefox does have an auto-update function, which provides any security patches or updates needed, so I'm not really sure what your point is.
Maybe you're not one of the "tech savvy" users.

Perhaps "market" was a poor word choice. I meant usage. I am well aware that IE is pushed on newbies as part of Windows. That is why I made the comment about them being more likely to be using IE.

As far as the auto-update feature of Firefox, I did not say that they don't have one. My intent was to communicate that MS has a regular patching cycle (2nd Tuesday of every month) where other browsers do not. Most of their updates are focused on feature annd add-in updates which is fine.

Finally, I can assure you that I am pretty "tech savvy" as well.

[Sober Dude]

Raeven wrote:

<quoted text>
I always receive regular updates to Firefox. Same with all the wonderful add-ons you can get like the Ad-blocker and last pass, etc.

Again... I was referring to regularly scheduled security updates. MS does theirs on the 2nd Tues of every month. They do this irregardless of whether or not there are feature updates.

Most other companies issue feature updates when they are ready and package security updates with them. The net result is that there is usually a longer time between updates.

[Kelly7]

kathy65 wrote:

<quoted text>
Just took notice of your new pic of the dog...is this the pup...grown and you were finally able to get a nice one???? Beautiful!

Yup, this is Moo as she is now. She keeps ducking inside the house when I get my camera, but I got lucky on this one.

[Dennis Mac]

Sober Dude wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps "market" was a poor word choice. I meant usage. I am well aware that IE is pushed on newbies as part of Windows. That is why I made the comment about them being more likely to be using IE.
As far as the auto-update feature of Firefox, I did not say that they don't have one. My intent was to communicate that MS has a regular patching cycle (2nd Tuesday of every month) where other browsers do not. Most of their updates are focused on feature annd add-in updates which is fine.
Finally, I can assure you that I am pretty "tech savvy" as well.

Beyond "surveys", there is no way to accurately quantify the percent usage of one browser over another.

I suspect that Firefox usage is higher than MS would like to admit.

Firefox polls the home site and will apply any available updates as posted, and according to the client's settings.

I think it speaks volumes that MS has a "patch Tuesday", or whatever. Their software has always been overly complex, and this is by design. By constantly introducing more resource-intensive products, Microsoft requires hardware upgrades, thus perpetuating their licensing agreements with the manufacturers.

The complexity of their products is what causes them to have to issue weekly patches.

I choose the path of least resistance:
XP Pro SP3 and Firefox 3.0.11

Only when they pull the plug on XP will I be forced to migrate to Win-7, and I will ALSO have to buy new hardware to run it.