Posted on 01/04/2007 1:20:49 PM PST by Redcloak
Security Fix spent the past several weeks compiling statistics on how long it took some of the major software vendors to issue patches for security flaws in their products. Since Windows is the most-used operating system in the world, it makes sense to lead off with data on Microsoft's security updates in 2006.
Click the graphic for data on 2006 IE patches.
First, a note on the methodology behind this blog post: The data presented here builds on a project I began in late 2005 looking back on three years of efforts by Microsoft to address only the most severe security holes in its software. I conducted that same research again last month, individually contacting nearly all of the security researchers who submitted reports of critical flaws in Microsoft products to learn from them not only the dates that they had submitted their findings to the company, but also any other security trends or anomalies they observed in working with the world's largest software maker.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
That's not true. It was un safe for 365.24 days in 2006....
Is that all? How about Firefox?
"In contrast, Internet Explorer's closest competitor in terms of market share -- Mozilla's Firefox browser -- experienced a single period lasting just nine days last year in which exploit code for a serious security hole was posted online before Mozilla shipped a patch to remedy the problem."
Well... There was one 9 day stint without a patch.
No matter how good Firefox is, you still have to have Internet Explorer installed in order to get Windows Update and Microsoft Office Update to work.
I think that he means "more unsafe than usual".
bookmark
That's about all I use it for.
Ever since I switched to Firefox, about a year and a half ago, I've had absolutely NO PROBLEMS! With IE, I had continuous problems............
Of course, this number assumes that Joe User installs the patch the day it comes out.
My IE's have been safe for years, no attacks, no malware, no disabling virii.
Running IE under WINE?
; )
Im not a fan of Microsoft, but this article is cruft attention getting stuff (and security researchers revel in press attention)
The reality is the Windows, and virtually all software is vulnerable 100% if the time.
Its a certainly that both firefox and IE are vulnerable now, as well as any other software you can name.
The issue is whether those vulnerabilities are known to the hacker community and whether fixes are available. But rest assured, there ARE to be discoverned vulnerabilities in all software.
This blogger used his 284 day figure to calculate how long a researcher knew and had reported to Microsoft the issue, and how long it took Microsoft to throughly code, test and distribute a patch.
Considering the size and scope of Windows, IE etc, if the 284 day figure were true, it would represent extremely secure software. As its, the true number is no doubt 365.25 days.
Same here. Scans come up clean.
Well Firefox automatically updates it the first time (actually the second time as the first time finds the patch and offers to update immediately, if you don't do it, then it updates the next time you try to use it) you use it after a patch is released, so it is hard not to be updated.
Yes, but having IE for ONLY those purposes is fine. My default is set for Firefox, not IE.
http://www.browserwar.org/ - vote for your favorite browser
""Running IE under WINE? ""
Nope Windows XP, many easy ways to be secure, regardless what the Microsoft haters here on FR say. And it is easy, doesn't take countless hours of maintenace. :-)
I was referring to the IE number.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.