Yet another backdoor for IE....
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3840101.stm

Okay, quick question: How are the Windows users supposed to read that if they're not supposed to use IE until Microsoft patches it? Barely any Windows users use Netscape or Mozilla (Unlike myself, who only uses those because I'm addicted to tabbed browsing now). What are they supposed to do, wait until MS sends everyone an email, and it magically lands in everyone's Outlook even though half the people havn't bothered setting up Outlook?

The only thing wrong with the warning is the last part, "...until Microsoft patches a serious security hole in it."

I think the first part, "Users are being told to avoid using Internet Explorer" can stand on it's own.

You can't disable IE, it's integrated into the OS. Users didn't want it integrated into the OS. MS' competitors didn't want it integrated into the OS. The government didn't want it integrated into the OS. Microsoft integrated it into the OS anyway. I'm sure this vulnerability will be someone else's fault though. Maybe they can blame Linux users again.

Well i read that warning and there for i downloaded mozilla. Will also have to talk with my grandmother, as she is in the process of getting broadband. Dont know how much this matters anyway since there will always be software securityflaws.

You're using IE every time you click on My Computer. With Windows 3.x users could change the shell= line in system.ini but that flexibility had to be eliminated to accomplish MS' goal of total desktop domination. So they introduced a few security vulnerabilities in the process. It's not like 95% of the world has any choice (or say) in the matter anyway. You will do things the Microsoft way and like it. :p

I hate IE it's been buggy for so long. When I had the option in Windows I always used Netscape, and I never used Outlook at home, used it at work though. We are fortunate as we have Linux and a choice in which browser to use. M$ makes some poor decisions IMHO, so maybe it won't be so long and the rest of the world will see that too.

I thought Internet Exploder WAS the backdoor. It's way to ugly and bulky to be the front door. :-)

/me had a client whose web server was a vector for the infection. not amused one bit. They _fianlly_ heeded my advice and stoped using IE. Changing shared hostimg companies also helped ;)

This was in a local newspaper here in Sweden this morning. Funny enough, it stands:

"Do you have a PC which runs Internet Explorer as browser - watch out where you are surfing. Microsoft warns for a new Trojan that makes a mess..."

roughly translated. The funny is, they simply assume that if we run a PC, we run Windows and if we run browser, we use Internet Explorer... how sad. They could simply put something telling about Linux and security and Mozilla Browser there. Even a sticky poiting to Knoppix would be great and we'd have more interesting things to read ratter then the crappy Soccer. MS needs some slaps on the face from newspapers. That'd force them to fix those holes and make better software. But the media is either scared of MS or is just dumb... I'd say a mix of both...

This all is an interesting insight in to the human psyche isn't it? I mean, just how many security holes were found in windows/IE over the last last? I lost count! Yet very few people will decide to switch to linux or the mac. Why? So that they are not removed from their environment that is familiar to them. Kind of like not wanting to move in spite of regular natural disasters that happen where you live.

Man, I could not agree more with you. There's never a place like home.... no matter what.

However, things start to change a little, not much, but a little. Today I got three computers magazines in my mail and one DVD(I got this pack 3 times an year). The DVD had an Emergency Green Cross at the front, very nice, with a hole bunch (and I mean it, a lot) of programs, anti-virus, non-IE browsers, service packs, and for my astonishment, the 3 iso from Mandrake 9.2 were also on the disk. As I said, it's not much, but it's something that I've been waiting for so long :D