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School's out to shun IE (PSU recommends Mozilla & Firefox instead)
c|Net ^ | 12/09/2004 | Jim Hu

Posted on 12/09/2004 6:18:36 PM PST by Prime Choice

Citing security risks, a state university is urging students to drop Internet Explorer in favor of alternative Web browsers such as Firefox and Safari.

In a notice sent to students on Wednesday, Pennsylvania State University's Information Technology Services department recommended that students download other browsers to reduce attacks through vulnerabilities in the Microsoft software.

The university said "media reports" and a string of warnings by Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Emergency and Response Team led to its recommendation.

"We're not telling people to wipe off IE, because you need IE to do operating-system updates," Robin Anderson, a spokeswoman for Penn State's ITS department, said in an interview. "We're telling (students) there are alternatives--and for them to strongly look at those."

Microsoft said Internet users have a choice in Web browsers, adding that the company has invested heavily in online security.

"While Internet Explorer is the choice of hundreds of millions because of the unique value it provides, we respect that some customers will choose an alternative," a Microsoft representative wrote in an e-mail statement.

Penn State's new policy highlights the many security vulnerabilities that have dogged IE over the past few months. Nearly two dozen holes in the Web browser have been discovered during the fall, ranging in degrees of seriousness.

Malicious code writers have targeted security holes in the browser to launch attacks or install spyware. These attacks are often launched when a victim clicks on a specific Web link, opening the door for criminals to take over the person's computer. Once the PC is compromised, the attacker could access account information, load other software and delete files.

Other attackers have targeted IE vulnerabilities to launch viruses. In November, security researchers discovered two viruses, Bofra.A and Bofra.B, loosely based on the MyDoom source code.

Security concerns have prompted a growing number of Internet users to embrace different browsers, such as The Mozilla Organization's Firefox, Apple Computer's Safari and Opera Software's Opera. While IE remains the undisputed leader for browsers, with nearly 90 percent market share, Firefox continues to gain in popularity.

Firefox has surpassed the 5 million download mark while gaining 5 percentage points in May to 7.4 percent, according to research firm OneStat.com. Microsoft has disputed these numbers, claiming that they do not represent corporate users.

Even though attackers target IE because of its near ubiquity, malicious code writers are widening their reach. Yesterday, a security company discovered an exploit in a feature common to most browsers, including IE, Firefox, Opera and Safari, that could be used to launch an attack.

Penn State's Anderson said the university has just completed a two-month information campaign for PC security, urging students to download firewalls and antivirus software, and to regularly install operating-system updates. She added that changing browsers is one of many ways to defend against attackers.

"What we're saying is, we're taking a hard stance on securing our computers," Anderson said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: browsers; convictedmonopoly; exploit; firefox; getamac; internetexploder; internetexploiter; internetexplorder; lowqualitycrap; microsoft; microsoftmalware; mozilla; patch; security; securityflaw; trojan; virus; windows; worm
Microsoft said ... the company has invested heavily in online security.

ROTFL!!

1 posted on 12/09/2004 6:18:37 PM PST by Prime Choice
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To: Prime Choice

And well they should avoid IE. FireFox does it better and safer(so far). I have also just swutched from Putlook Express to Thunderbird as my email client.
Another excellent product. I highly recomend it.

And they both are free.


2 posted on 12/09/2004 6:21:37 PM PST by Khurkris (That sound you hear coming from over the horizon...thats me laughing.)
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To: Prime Choice

And well they should avoid IE. FireFox does it better and safer(so far). I have also just swutched from Putlook Express to Thunderbird as my email client.
Another excellent product. I highly recomend it.

And they both are free.


3 posted on 12/09/2004 6:22:10 PM PST by Khurkris (That sound you hear coming from over the horizon...thats me laughing.)
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To: Prime Choice

Firefox Rocks


4 posted on 12/09/2004 6:22:24 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: Prime Choice
"While Internet Explorer is the choice of hundreds of millions because of the unique value it provides,

I liked that one too L0L. The only reason hundreds of millions use it is because MS bundles it with the OS and hundreds of millions dont know any better

5 posted on 12/09/2004 6:25:47 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Prime Choice

The investment consists of numerous press releases after every security hole is found in IE.

For an example of their security procedures, watch kevin bacon at the end of Animal House where he stands against the rushing crowd and yells "ALL IS WELL!!!! REMAIN CALM!!!!"


7 posted on 12/09/2004 6:27:09 PM PST by flashbunny (Every thought that enters my head requires its own vanity thread.)
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To: mylife
And how many buy Windows based PC's for the same reason. Save $200 on initial and then spend $500 in time, energy and repairs, lost files, lost sales....etc.... But it was cheaper.

I remember when the reason one bought IBM in corporate was because one would never get fired for a failure of an IBM machine but would it another brand was purchased. Much the same today with Windows.
8 posted on 12/09/2004 6:42:29 PM PST by georgiarat (What? Question my credentials to vote!)
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To: flashbunny

Well, just to be the contrarian, I did an online security test today with both IE and Firefox,Zone Alarm running behind a router firewall,...And I got high marks for intrusion protection and trojans but both browsers failed "browser privacy".This is not that big a deal to me because I don't bank or shop online and have 0 credit card info on my computer.I still think Firefox is a better browser but just so you know it aint bullet proof.


9 posted on 12/09/2004 6:57:17 PM PST by edchambers ("Pajamahadin Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: Khurkris

Bump


10 posted on 12/09/2004 7:16:21 PM PST by nw_arizona_granny (Today, please pray for God's miracle, we are not going to make it without him.)
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