MSIE Security Threat

[Sir_Winston54]

For those who use Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 OS, and IE:

Microsoft warns of serious computer security hole
By JORDAN ROBERTSON, Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Microsoft Corp. has taken the rare step of warning about a serious computer security vulnerability it hasn't fixed yet.

The vulnerability disclosed Monday affects Internet Explorer users whose computers run the Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating software.

It can allow hackers to remotely take control of victims' machines. The victims don't need to do anything to get infected except visit a Web site that's been hacked.

Security experts say criminals have been attacking the vulnerability for nearly a week. Thousands of sites have been hacked to serve up malicious software that exploits the vulnerability. People are drawn to these sites by clicking a link in spam e-mail.

The so-called "zero day" vulnerability disclosed by Microsoft affects a part of its software used to play video. The problem arises from the way the software interacts with Internet Explorer, which opens a hole for hackers to tunnel into.

Microsoft urged vulnerable users to disable the problematic part of its software, which can be done from Microsoft's Web site, while the company works on a "patch" — or software fix — for the problem.​

 

[rosco rathbone]

crickets lol

 

[Netzach]

firefox crickets.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

crickets lol

firefox crickets.

WTH are y'all talkin' about?

 

[Keroin]

Yep.

Firefox girl for nigh on five years now.

 

[rosco rathbone]

WTH are y'all talkin' about?

VVVVV this

Yep.

Firefox girl for nigh on five years now.

 

[graceanne]

Yep.

Firefox girl for nigh on five years now.

Yup. I love my firefox.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Sorry I'm so antediluvian that I still use IE most of the time, though I do have and use FF, too.

 

[DVS]

Sorry I'm so antediluvian that I still use IE most of the time, though I do have and use FF, too.

I've always believed that as often as you can, use some other software other than a Microsoft brand, so you can break the chain in the event of a possible virus threat. If you use totally Microsoft products, you are most vulnerable to an attack, because 99.9% of all viruses are created to infect a Microsoft product. And, once it's in your system, it travels via the Microsoft path pretty well.

So, if you have a vulnerable OS in XP or Vista (shivers), or say your version of I.E. is suspect, you are more likely to be a target. But, if you can use another OS, or another browser, or another email program other than Outlook, etc., you are doing yourself a favor.

I don't even have Outlook installed on my computers, and I try to keep I.E. disabled, although every Microsoft security update seems to reactivate the damn thing, again.

Paalease! There are other options out there, other than daddy Microsoft.

I've used Netscape for a browser and email for years, now I use Firefox and Thunderbird. I have XP for an OS, and that's the most Microsoft I want on my computer.

 

[Primalex]

It can allow hackers to remotely take control of victims' machines.

Virtual BDSM. So what?

 

[graceanne]

Virtual BDSM. So what?

LOL That's one way of looking at it.