France warns against Internet Explorer use

Is the entire Europe and then US going towards not using Internet Explorer? How can we be sure that Google Chorme and Firefox and other browsers are safe?

If the govts of Germany and France know about a security flaw, why have they not asked Microsoft to fix it? Or better why not have a solution to solve the problem.

The internet industry is increasingly being controlled by the world govts:

1) Italy says users need govt permission to upload videos
2) Google says that it may pull out of China
3) Germany and France warns users againsnt using IE.

It wont be worth browsing the web in the near future with all these controls

France has followed Germany's lead, and has advised computer users to download a different web browser after Microsoft's Internet Explorer was found to contain a critical security flaw.

The French government issued an advisory to computer users, recommending that they switch to a different web browser, such as Firefox or Google Chrome. It follows a similar move by the German government, after it was discovered that Internet Explorer contained a serious security flaw that could be exploited by hackers and cybercriminals.

Microsoft last week admitted that its Internet Explorer browser was the weak link in recent attacks by hackers who pried in to the email accounts of human rights activists in China

[edit on 19-1-2010 by sunny_2008ny]

I think that it is fair enough for an official government statement advising those who have not heard of a critical flaw in the Microsoft browser that there is one and that it may be a good idea to use a different browser.

If they didn't put out the statement and millions or billions were lost as a result of hacking.. then that would be a drain on their economies and after all and its not as if Microsoft would warn them. Also the fact that most of these EU states don't speak English and its mainly American media that is making a big deal about the Google thing means a lot of them wouldn't have heard about the weakness.

Its common sense IMO and its not exactly government intervention. Its an advisement.

I definitely don't agree with what Italy are doing.. won't last long imo.

People using Internet Explorer diserve what they get. I have stopped using that garbage a long time ago.

It amazes me how Microsoft is incapable of developing a good version of IE.

Something else is going on here in France and Germany, like hating an American company that is doing well. It isn't, guaranteed, because of some security flaw. Chinese hackers are probably allowed to live another day if they find some security hole. With life or death as a motivator Chrome, Firefox or IE, they will find some security hole!

Originally posted by sunny_2008ny
Is the entire Europe and then US going towards not using Internet Explorer? How can we be sure that Google Chorme and Firefox and other browsers are safe?

Actually the main reason Internet explorer is not safe is that it is totally integrated as part of the Windows operating system. So effectively when you go online with Internet Explorer you are opening your OS to the web.

No web browser is totally safe however, and as with the rise of the scareware popups people will in advertently infect themselves.

Peace Out,

Korg.


[edit on 19-1-2010 by Korg Trinity]

reply to post by Korg Trinity

So effectively when you go online with Internet Explorer you are opening your OS to the web.

It depends on what ports are open. Web uses the http port 80 and if the other ports are closed (ftp, ssh etc) then it is not likely that your OS will be affected.

But another suprise - just the other day I went to google.com and then "Videos" Then used the search term "Economic collapse" - Then clicked on Show Options - Then chose "past Week" - Then went to page 2

What I saw there was 2 or 3 porn videos - and these porn vidoes had viruses in it. ( Dont try this on your PC)

So google is not safe either.

Actually, diversification is a good thing anyway. Homogenous systems lead to hopeless inbreeding of code. This leads to security flaws. This is why IE is hit more often with security flaws (it is still the most popular browser out there by far), not because of poor development.

Honestly, if you saw the kinds of hacks that you have to do to break IE, you would see that it is getting harder and harder to pull it off. You have to do things that the developers and architects would never in their drug induced dreams would think of.

If you really want secure, solid browsers, re-engineer the web. Come up with a new language to replace HTML and enforce those standards (that's what the W3 Consortium is for). Once those standards are met, keep things simple. Too much complexity opens the doors to bizzare security holes.

As for Korg's opinion on the nature of IE in Windows, I respectfully disagree. IE is not tightly integrated anymore. The idea of a browser is tightly integrated, but IE doesn't have to be that browser. The problem is that people have a hard time differentiating between internet related settings and browser settings.

Originally posted by sunny_2008ny
reply to post by Korg Trinity

 

So effectively when you go online with Internet Explorer you are opening your OS to the web.

It depends on what ports are open. Web uses the http port 80 and if the other ports are closed (ftp, ssh etc) then it is not likely that your OS will be affected.

So what you are saying then is it is not possible for a virus to operate over port 80??!!??

You must not then know that it is possible to encapsulate packets over port 80, it is....

I can tell you that streaming and downloading / uploading can and does occur over port 80, that’s a fact.

Microsoft Internet Explorer works on the same principle as Windows Explorer, and as such can gain access to all the files on your pc. In fact the largest proportion of the code is identical.

This is the main reason IE puts your OS at risk.

Anyone that disputes this FACT needs to read up on the OS they are using... Geeze why does no one ever read the blooming manual lol

All the best,

Korg.

reply to post by Korg Trinity

So what you are saying then is it is not possible for a virus to operate over port 80??!!??

You must not then know that it is possible to encapsulate packets over port 80, it is....

Viruses usually use the port 80 that is the open port, I am not saying that port 80 cannot let a virus in

But usually it is user generated activity like clicking on malicious code or downloading unsafe content, that results in attacks on OS

And then attacks take place on even the most secure systems that are hacked, and it does not have to be a browser, for example most denial of service attacks do not need a browser they can directly go to a webserver.





[edit on 19-1-2010 by sunny_2008ny]

Originally posted by GTORick
like hating an American company that is doing well.

So are you saying that the EU governments are not looking out for their citizens internet security & safety by advising them to be wary of IE until the problems are fixed.. but that they are instead grouping together to try and damage a US company.. over bitterness?

Get a grip man How small minded do you think we are? Our leaders have enough to be worrying about with 500 million people to govern already.. let alone trying to snipe at Microsoft over jealousy.

Just because your media tells you that Europeans hate you because you are doing well doesn't mean that we do.. its called wartime propaganda and its used to get a group a nation together. We do well enough not to give a second thought about what ye have... just what ye do. Because its hard to ignore that at times.

The only thing that French and Germans dislike about the US is the way you as a collective people and your media treats and talks about them.. ie. Badly.. & US Imperial foreign policy which includes destabilization of the EU.

Don't build up a ball of hate and distrust for them for no reason just because you are being directed to. Its ridiculous. At least have a real reason

Originally posted by sunny_2008ny

France has followed Germany's lead, and has advised computer users to download a different web browser after Microsoft's Internet Explorer was found to contain a critical security flaw.

The French government issued an advisory to computer users, recommending that they switch to a different web browser, such as Firefox or Google Chrome. It follows a similar move by the German government, after it was discovered that Internet Explorer contained a serious security flaw that could be exploited by hackers and cybercriminals.

Microsoft last week admitted that its Internet Explorer browser was the weak link in recent attacks by hackers who pried in to the email accounts of human rights activists in China

[edit on 19-1-2010 by sunny_2008ny]

Internet explorer is the unsafest browers out there and that has been known for a long time, it is easy getting passwords trhough it and because of many complaints about creditcard info stealing they issued this warning.

pretty normal, doesn't have anything to do with internet regulations

Please note that one doesn't need port 80 open to access the web. Even if 80 was open, there would need to be a service deamon of some kind listening on that port. It doesn't even need to be an httpd, most service deamons can be set to use whatever port you tell it.

For years I have seen warnings about IE; on securityfocus for example, many times the recommended fix was "don't use Internet Explorer".

Windows itself stores so much information, unless your a techy (Of which I am not) then we wont have a clue just how much information is stored/saved/used by companies.

Google toolbar stunned me how much information that saved, from log of all visited websites, to every item i searched - and this is just one company who would sell on or use my information.

Im not suprised if every online OS is logging something somewhere for someone.

Originally posted by Emiai
Windows itself stores so much information, unless your a techy (Of which I am not) then we wont have a clue just how much information is stored/saved/used by companies.

Google toolbar stunned me how much information that saved, from log of all visited websites, to every item i searched - and this is just one company who would sell on or use my information.

Im not suprised if every online OS is logging something somewhere for someone.

Download CCleaner or Windowwasher.

Set it up correctly and it will clean all cookies / internet history / Temp files etc.

There are also various programs that will allow you to view what domains are attempting to request info from your pc. If there is an ip or a domain there you don't recognize you can kill the handshake...

Antivirus programs are much a muchness but the space and resource they take up is a major concern. So far I would recommend Norton 2009 as it has an active guard and doesn't consume vast quantities of resources.

Lots of way to protect yourself if you know what you are doing.

Best advice read a few books, watch some videos and sign up for a few tech forums.

Though not using IE is by far the best though contraversial advice there maybe.

All the best,

Korg.