Posted on 12/16/2008 4:22:33 PM PST by Bokababe
Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed.
The flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say.
Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it. ....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I use Firefox for most casual browsing and IE for other apps.
Firefox has also had a number of security problems recently. best upgrade that as well.
Despite the hype all browsers have problems and its best to have a layered security system.
Firefox here as well.
My web site statistics report shows IE 55% and Firefox 38% with the rest in Safari, Opera, etc. That’s a higher percentage Firefox than a general site would see, but it’s a technical site.
Jack
“What are the possible downsides to using some other browser? will I still be able to access everything?”
Depends on what you access. Most banking systems support IE and Firefox. Support for other browsers is sporadic.
**It is tricky to uninstall IE7, there is no button for it in add/remove programs like most of my other ones, so I have to use the MS fix. I don’t want to mess up my system any worse than it is until we figure out a few things.**
You should NOT uninstall IE. Icons for both browsers will be on your desktop. You may need to switch to IE from time to time, so keep it as a backup.
I got the impression it was an operating system
I flip back and forth between FF and IE ... IE works best for me on streaming audio/video ... I listen to Rush on KSFO on streaming audio ... that way I can use the computer and listen to radio ... the computer makes the radio go nuts ..
Internet Explorer is a browser and comes with Windows. You cannot remove it but you don’t have to use it. Any danger with IE is only if you use it.
Download another browser, Firefox or Opera are the best imo, and never open IE again.
Personally, I will continue to use IE.
Firefox user here
No, it’s a browser.
Internet Explorer is Microsoft’s browser. Firefox is just a browser. Windows will still be your OS.
If you don’t want to install it just yet, you can download a free .iso file containing the Ubuntu Linux operating system, write it to a spare CD and install it later. BTW, it configured for the wireless network here automatically (DHCP, from behind a BSD router, even). ...haven’t had any virus or other security problems with it for several years, even though it’s mighty popular. Follow the instructions on the Web for installing much software after the OS install (synaptic—GUI package manager that’s really easy to use).
So you're saying I should just leave IE7 as it is and install IE8 beta, then two shortcuts should appear on my desktop (if the new shortcut doesn't show up, usually does, I can find it and make one)?
This is why you'd better understand there might be a bug or a conflict when you change anything incl loading new software. My first install of IE7 messed up all my usenet newsgroups, totally crazy way to access them, so I reverted back to IE6. The newsgroups were still messed up the same way whereas they weren't before! So luckily I can get them w/Netscape 7.01 so use that now. I do not trust MS changes! Most software I've installed - judiciously - seem to be ok.
In the meantime after reading this warning, I am leery about running IE7, but I need it.
I'm going to back up a couple more critical files because I'm seeing some flashes of black screens I haven't before, and that could be a warning.
I also ran msconfig because I want to get rid of all but 3 things on my startup. There are too many things on there that I don't know what they are for. I did uncheck the ones I knew what they were that I didn't want, so far so good on that. I can always go in and check the boxes again.
I delayed installing Svc Pack 3 but finally did, I just hate to blindly install their updates because I don't know how to back out of them.
System restore hasn't worked the last couple times, so I have to get around that another way.
Thanks much for the response.
I use Firefox and have found very VERY few sites that are a problem. And, guess what, most are Microsoft sites that won’t load properly. For those I use IE.
Don’t know what you mean by “scrambled”, but all IE bookmarks, history, passwords and other data import right into Firefox. As for email, Firefox (like IE) isn’t an email client per se, but you can still use Outlook Express, or Outlook, or you can also install Mozilla’s Thunderbird email client, which works rings around Outlook. You can even install the Lightning extension and have calendar and task list capability within Thunderbird. And, it’s all free. Oh, and Thunderbird also imports your contact lists from Outlook/Outlook Express.
Don’t get burned with IE. There’s no reason to take that chance anymore...
If you only want to install the Firefox browser, BTW, get the one for Windows and install it (no need to uninstall Windows for that).
I have a spare hard drive, will Ubuntu Linux work with an older machine? I don’t use IE I use Firefox
I'm using LinuxMint. It's uses Ubuntu for a base but comes with all most all the multimedia stuff set up. I also didn't have the laptop hard drive head parking problem I had with Hardy. Intrepid had a glitch with not remembering wireless passwords. LinuxMint 6 Felicia has just been released. So far so good.
bump
What do I need to create and use my Ubuntu CD?
* A blank CD and the ability to burn blank CDs
* A modern Intel or AMD compatible computer
* At least 256MB of RAM
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