Comments on: IE zero-day vulnerability awaits patch

By: ogman

ogman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:01:29 +0000

It’s interesting how many critical government and business operations are offline due to this vulnerability. Even mainframe computing is effected, because trouble tickets and other support is now web-based. Hey Dvorak, can we get a new commentary on “cloud computing?” I know John “loves” the cloud!

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:27:32 +0000

Thats mighty white of msft to come out with an update early.
Ballmer has to go.

By: GetSmart

GetSmart — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:17:52 +0000

Microsoft has code named the new security patch “Firefox”

By: FRAGaLOT

FRAGaLOT — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:05:28 +0000

This story was acctually reported on my morning local news on TV. They even had a “teaser” referring to “a popular internet software that could lead your PC to being hacked…”

My first thought was, oh Internet Explorer? Well no-duh? How is this “news” when everyone has known this for close to a decade now? Glad the tech-stupid mass media has caught up finally. They were probably running IE on the laptops on the anchor’s desks already running spam bots.

By: Zybch

Zybch — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:46:43 +0000

#12 – Unfortunately I think the addon you have that allows IE rendering probably actually uses IE in much the same way that outlook used IE in the preview window, so no, you’re not really safe.
Then again, you probably don’t act like a stupid ignorant peon and get tricked into opening every damn link you see.

By: deowll

deowll — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:53:07 +0000

I don’t have the link but the news article I just read said that all the major browsers are wide open.

By: amodedoma

amodedoma — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:24:46 +0000

Well Duh!

Those who support the evil empire shall be smitten in the hell they create!
Down with the Monopoli$tic tyrant!

Just a word of advice to the innocent, ignorant, or uninformed – ALWAYS use alternatives to M$ where possible or practical.

By: Not Dvorak

Not Dvorak — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:58:07 +0000

Not only have I read that Firefox and Chrome are not vulnerable to hackers, but using them instead of IE also makes your penis larger. Must be true, I read it somewhere.

By: BillBC

BillBC — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:03:09 +0000

Question: I use Firefox almost all the time, Opera when I’m in a hurry. Firefox has a tab that lets you switch the rendering engine to IE when you are at some stupid site that requires it. Would this leave me vulnerable as well? I never use IE straight….

By: jescott418

jescott418 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:01:04 +0000

Apple just had a bunch of security patches too. Firefox before that.
Google Chrome too. Seems nothing is safe anymore. I guess we just need to jump from one browser to another depending on which way the malware is going.

By: Zybch

Zybch — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:54:53 +0000

#8 – True. Unfortunately as you make computers more and more idiot proof, more and more idiots will use them, a fact apple corp has capitalized upon quite successfully. And as we (thats you and me) know its these idiot users that really do think they’ll ‘Win an iPod by clicking on the monkey!!’
You should have to take a test to get a license to use a computer (and have kids).

By: James Hill

James Hill — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:23:40 +0000

#4 – Cratering? They didn’t go down year-over-year, so no, your analysis is wrong.

As usual.

Don’t bother responding. You already know you’re owned.

By: Improbus

Improbus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:43:24 +0000

All joking aside though, like the vast majority of scams and vulnerabilities these days, this particular flaw relies on stupid people acting moronically by clicking links in emails and not having ANY common sense.

Common sense to you and me but not to the hoi polloi.

By: Zybch

Zybch — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:34:08 +0000

#3 – So you’re one of the 5 people that uses Opera. Guess its like the mac, security via obscurity.
All joking aside though, like the vast majority of scams and vulnerabilities these days, this particular flaw relies on stupid people acting moronically by clicking links in emails and not having ANY common sense.
You can be sure that the majority of those affected by this will also be links in many of the stupid chain emails who really do believe that Bill Gates will give them $1000 if they forward the chain on to 20 of their stupid gullible friends who will immediately do the same…

By: ECA

ECA — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:20:39 +0000

MS installed a few back hole into IE for advertisers..And then sells the ABILITY to do popups and OTHER things to them.
They change the HOLES at times so they can RE-SELL the idea.
Do you really think the hackers ARNT going to find them??