?????Homeland Security warns vs using Internet Explorer??????

[bobbieinok]

an ad????....fake????

http://search411.com/

The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY is advising all Microsoft Windows users to stop using INTERNET EXPLORER due to a number of security issues with that Web Browser. They suggest using alternative browsers until such time as Microsoft fix their product. We suggest you download or Opera. Click the links for more information on those excellent products.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I would guess an ad, but I don't know...

The stuff about "information on these excellent products" seems suspicious.

[Turbineguy]

2. Yes,

We suggest you stop using your computer altogether! We will be starting up a program to supply you with a Government Approved computer that will work much better than the one you have now. In the meantime, shut down your computer and be sure to watch Fox News for information!

[MsConduct]

3. Yeah, I'd really trust anything the "U.S. Dept. of Homeland

Security" would supposedly recommend. Maybe they have their own browser that we could download, heh? I'll keep my IE thank you very much!

[IChing]

4. If you are using IE then you run a risk more than with other browsers

Unless you have to use it at-

Some banks, the US patent office (only takes IE),
CNN polls, yes I have to change to IE to vote, because they change the questions for other users.

Opera is good, safari, and firefox, I only use IE when absolutely necessary

doubt that homeland security put this out, since most of the US govt. is using microsoft.
but you should have alternative browsers
in use on your computer.

THE OTHER BROWSERS ARE FREE

[AndyTiedye]

6. Some Sites Check for IE But Will Work With the Others Anyway

You can try loading the Firefox extension to switch user agent settings
and have it tell the server that it is Internet Explorer.

Won't work if the thing wants to load some Microsoft-specific control
onto your machine, but relatively few sites try to do that.

[hopein08]

5. My uncle, a Dem. computer whiz, did tell me not to use IE...

he said that virus, worms, spyware, adware, etc. are created most often for the weaknesses in Microsoft Internet Explorer. He said the more you use it, the more at risk your computer is. At the time, he was fixing my computer which had 4000 odd infected files and 30 odd spyware/adware instances and I had only ever used Internet Explorer. He said that Firefox and Netscape are better because they are more secure.

My sister's boyfriend, also a computer whiz, told her only to use IE when she absolutely had to because of IE weaknesses.

I use Netscape now and my sister uses the Firefox that her boyfriend put on her laptop.

I have no idea about Homeland Security warnings, but I just thought I'd share what I heard.

[BloodyWilliam]

7. Well, a broken clock is right twice a day...

(unless it's a digital clock. Shut up.)

Firefox (www.mozilla.org) is superior in every way to IE. More stable, more resistant to spyware and exploits/virii, tabbed browsing, it's great. I swear by it.

[jim3775]

8. The only time I will ever say this:

Listen to the federal government, they know what they are talking about.

[rumpel]

9. Here is the actual cyber security site. FYI.

http://www.us-cert.gov/

[longship]

10. Jeeeesus! Isn't that the only browser that FEMA allows?

Didn't I read something here the other day that FEMA only allows Internet Explorer for filing Katrina claims?

DHS is one fucked up organization.

on edit: BTW, I use FireFox on Linux.

[PowerToThePeople]

11. Get Firefox

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

[jim3775]

12. Firefox currently has 1 unpatched security vulnerability

IE has like 10 or 12, Opera has 0.


www.opera.com

[Wizard777]

13. Windows and Realplayer updates have hostile programs

Windows: Wuloader and WCRPTD
Real Player: Realplay

I have Cable and these programs leave me longing for the lightning fast days of a 28k dialup modem. I let it go once just to see how slow it was going. It took 1 hour to go from a topic here at DU back to the main forum. That's deprival of the speed of my cable service. Mr. Gates and Helix owes me some money.

[sarcasmo]

14. My tin foil hat is going off like crazy over this link.

If the Government doesn't want you to use Internet Explorer. The Government makes me think that I should be using Internet Explorer.

[Jeanette in FL]

16. Exactly

If the government tells me the sun is going to rise in the east I will look to the west. That is how bad their credibility is to me.

[cynatnite]

15. I use Avant..

but hasn't these problems with IE been around for like...EVER? :eyes:

[Sapphire Blue]

17. DHS not advising any such thing; Alert is from 2004 & patch is available.

Technical Cyber Security Alert TA04-163A

Cross-Domain Redirect Vulnerability in Internet Explorer
Original release date: June 11, 2004
Last revised: December 3, 2004
Source: US-CERT

Solution

Apply a patch

Microsoft has released a cumulative patch (867801) in Security Bulletin MS04-025 which addresses this issue (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-025.mspx)

More @ http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-163A.html

[Technowitch]

18. Locking

Asked and answered.