FBI issued a warning today about a significant vulnerability in IE. Microsoft does have a fix available.
FBI issues alert on IE vulnerability
- Thread starter jks9199
- Start date
Buy a Mac. Zero IE issues on that platform. 
It doesn't hurt much. Plus the black shirt, blue jean uniform is comfy.
Seriously though, make sure to keep your system be it Windows, Mac or Linux up to date.
Regularly run your OS's updater, so the regular security patches can be installed.
Only install software from trusted sources, meaning if you visit a website and it says "install this patch", don't. Use the updater which will fetch it from a trusted source.
Also run a good anti virus and anti malware suite.
PC VIPRE or Trend Micro are my suggestions
Mac Avast or Sophos are my suggestions. (I run Sophos)
rlobrecht
Brown Belt
We have Macs at home.
For Windows, I like Microsoft Security Essentials. It's pretty fast, and doesn't use a lot of resources. It automatically updates alongside your patches. It looks for viruses and other malware. It's free.
For Windows, I like Microsoft Security Essentials. It's pretty fast, and doesn't use a lot of resources. It automatically updates alongside your patches. It looks for viruses and other malware. It's free.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
It would be easier if they told you when IE didn't have holes.....IE is ALWAYS at risk
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Which also means it is out there for the black hats to get easily, look for holes in and exploit
rlobrecht
Brown Belt
You're kidding yourself if you think that any commercially available virus scanner isn't thoroughly examined by black hats. Obscurity isn't security.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
I did not say that, I work in enterprise security and I would never say that.
What I am saying is that anything and everything Microsoft is check big-time and likely more than most. It is not that Macs are safer than PCs, because they are not, it is because they are not big in enterprise and not targeted as much. As far as commercial virus scanners go I don't deal with home versions so I would not know, I know there is one, rather popular one, out there that the last time I dealt with it I was pretty sure it would keep your computer safe because it locked everything down and pretty much even the user couldn't go anywhere
. I deal mainly with enterprise solutions/versions but I know ALL Microsoft stuff is full of holes, constantly tested and scanned and updated rather regularly and on occasions those updates cause issues and need to be patched as well.But as far a browsers go, even though IE is constantly checked and holes are found all the time, Microsoft has an much better patch management solution than just about any other browser going.
Firefox!
Yay for Firefox, but I don't think its that simple. Because IE is an integral part of Windows, an exploit in IE means an exploit in Windows itself, correct?
Sigh.
Used to be able to uninstall IE. Don't know if that's still possible. Get a Mac. No IE problems.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Used to be able to uninstall IE. Don't know if that's still possible. Get a Mac. No IE problems.
IE was integrated Windows 7 and possibly Vista. I never dealt with Vista so I am not sure there...So you cannot uninstall it anymore, but you can turn it off.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #15
My understanding (weak as it is anymore on this stuff!) is that Explorer is so integrated into the Windows package now that you can't do much about it's presence. For example, it's what powers your file explorer feature, too -- or least that's what I've been told. You might be able to block IE from accessing the web... but that's about it.
I think it literally will not allow you to uninstall it.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory 2013-41
http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2013/mfsa2013-41.html
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
True, but you can turn it off
Do you trust it to not have a vulnerability once turned off?
