German government warns against using Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is under attack once again after the recent unfortunate incident involving Google. This time the German government has issued a rather interesting warning against the use of Internet Explorer. This may be a gut reaction to the recent security vulnerability found in the browser.
Recently, Microsoft admitted that its Internet Explorer may have been the weak link in the massive hacker attack to China’s Google. Originally the blame was put on Adobe, but with the careful scrutiny of MacAfee, the root cause was discovered to be with Internet Explorer.
According to BBC News, the German Federal Office for Information Security issued a formal warning to all Web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer. This is in response to the hacking incident mentioned above as MacAfee stated that this security vulnerability exists in all versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
Graham Cluley of Sophos, an anti-virus firm, stated:
This is a vulnerability that was announced in the last couple of days. Microsoft have no patch yet and the implication is that this is the same one that exploited on the attacks on Google earlier this week…The way to exploit this flaw has now appeared on the internet, so it is quite possible that everyone is now going to have a go.
This may have a substantial impact to the userbase for IE as new awareness has been created by the government. There are Web users out there that did not even realize there were other options besides Microsoft IE. Also, others may even switch to Firefox or Chrome just to be on the safe side.
Regardless of the reason, its never good when government agencies are advocating users to switch to another browser for security reasons. This may be a big blow against Microsoft’s IE footprint, with Firefox and Chrome nipping at its toes.
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January 16th, 2010
“There are Web users out there that did not even realize there were other options besides Microsoft IE.”
If you were reporting objectively you would have also stated there are web users who don’t have the choice you propose due to corporate locked down configs or a requirement to use sites/apps that function in no browser other than IE.
From my BlackBerry Storm…
January 17th, 2010
This is alarming and it is good to know that indeed there are still other browsers people can use..
January 17th, 2010
“There are Web users out there that did not even realize there were other options besides Microsoft IE.”
I agree like the awesome Firefox that is both safe, secure and fast. Firefox can be run on Windows, Mac OS, Linux.
I feel the safest way to browse is on Firefox on a Linux OS like Ubuntu and this software is free.
January 17th, 2010
In one of the few times that I rarely use Internet Explorer for only like 5 minutes and ended up with that “Internet Security 2010″ virus/malware and AVG failed to catch it as well.
January 17th, 2010
I use a variety of browsers. Firefox is pretty useful. However, it seems that I’ve always had a habit of using IE. I still use a variety of spyware and virus programs. So, compared to the other commenters, I very rarely have problems.
January 17th, 2010
That’s a big blow for Microsoft. When governments are warning against your software you know you are in trouble.
January 18th, 2010
IE has a relatively low rate of developing compared to the other browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera. This rate of development is very essential for a browser as this is the one used by everyone to go to the web. It is generally expected that Firefox and Chrome has a new version almost every 2-4 weeks, almost having a new version on a monthly basis, even if it was just incremental. To be secure, these developments are very important. Something that it is not possible with IE since MS refuses to make it open source. Oh well… What is new with IE anyways… I stopped using it a very long time ago.
January 20th, 2010
“Regardless of the reason, its never good when government agencies are advocating users to switch to another browser for security reasons”
may you explain why you think so? and for whom is it “never good”? for the people or for the company?