Got sent this on an email at work (from a trusted source). It links through to a Microsoft page where, following a CERT advisory, MS are giving a Windows download for Mozilla.

I was advised to use Internet Explorer to check this. Has anyone else seen this?

you're aware that this is a joke exploit of the IE vulnerability, where IE is not able to display anything after "%01" in the address url? good, thought so.

This is nearly a month old, and the CERT notice still shows no response from Microsoft. I found this page (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];833786) on Microsoft's site; however, it only offers a bunch of manual steps that most people won't do. I don't see a software fix anywhere. Has anyone seen a patch? I'm glad that I don't rely on IE.

nah, that's the point, there is still no fix....

The bad part is that the article even mentions the %01 problem yet the don't offer a fix to display the URL correctly.

Microsoft has stated that they are only going to release a patch for this when they have put together a proper solution for the problem. Though speculation says they are holding out for the next scheduled bugfix release in February. Untill then people are getting screwed by fake sites similar to this one.

One of the more high profile scams is an email sent to people that has a link to a fake Chase-Manhattan Bank site with nice little text boxes for you name, address, social security #, etc, which they harvest and use for identity fraud. Novice users don't have any idea because the URL is something like "chase-manhattan.com%01.evilhackersite.com" which shows up in IE as chase-manhattan.com Microsofts answer "Don't click on Hyperlinks in emails". Ahh yes, secure computing at it's finest.

I realised part way through my working day that it was a hoax, just didn't have time to retract. Now I'm at home I can say: I apologise for my reflex posting - I just found it outstandingly ...uhmmm....outstanding that MS appeared to be recommending Mozilla. Apologies.

Considering that IE was the linchpin in Microsoft's strategy to monopolize the Internet by force, I find it in the highest degree of unlikelyhood that they would ever recommend using a browser other than their own, even temporarily. Steve Ballmer would dance naked on stage at Comdex before you'd see MS not recommend IE.