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26 Jan 2010 09:34

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Tech: Microsoft kills one Internet Explorer bug just in time for another

  • When will people learn not to use IE ever again? Just days after a major security exploit finally got patched in Internet Explorer, another security flaw – this one a combination hack which allows for control of a user’s machine by using a series of exploits – was nailed by security company Core Security Technologies. There has to be a point where Microsoft says “screw it, we’re just not supporting IE6 anymore, and we’re switching our browser framework to WebKit,” yet they continue to validate its existence to millions of users who don’t question it. source

23 Jan 2010 10:52

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Tech: Internet Explorer 6 fans get a taste of a major in-the-wild exploit

  • It’s the same one that led to Google’s Gibson getting hacked. It’s been warned about for weeks, and Microsoft patched Internet Explorer ahead of its normal release cycle to prevent it, but it’s official – the hack exploited by the Chinese is out in the wild. The exploit was bad enough, but what might be worse is the fact that Microsoft reportedly knew about it in freaking September and only patched it this week. Massive fail. source

19 Jan 2010 10:23

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Tech: Microsoft on Internet Explorer troubles: All software is dangerous

  • It is important to note that all software has vulnerabilities and switching browsers in an attempt to protect against these highly publicized but currently limited attacks can inadvertently create some false sense of security.
  • A statement from Microsoft • Regarding a newfound push for users to switch in the wake of a security threat created by Internet Explorer, especially IE6. Germany and France have already said not to use Internet Explorer, and the drumbeat against the software is getting louder. It’s worth pointing out, by the way, that IE has a much slower bug-fixing cycle than its competitors, so this statement (outside of the general sense) is a load of hooey. Drop the zero, get with the hero. source

16 Jan 2010 15:42

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Tech, World: Germany sez not to use Internet Explorer because it sucks

  • IE has been blamed for the massive hack attack on Google and others. Internet Explorer’s long history of being a sucky browser is catching up with it, and now Germany – a.k.a. a freaking massive country – is telling its citizens to stop using Internet Explorer altogether. The security hole found, by the way, affects all versions of IE, although Microsoft says more recent versions are safer. source

17 Oct 2009 11:43

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Tech: Microsoft screwed over Firefox users with a sneaky update

  • While the vulnerability is in an IE component, there is an attack vector for Firefox users as well. The reason is that .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installs a ‘Windows Presentation Foundation’ plug-in in Firefox.
  • Microsoft engineers on the company’s Security Research & Defense blog • Describing how a vulnerability which would usually only affect Internet Explorer users also affects IE users, too. The reason? Well, some genius thought it’d be awesome to stealthy foist a Microsoft-centric feature onto Firefox users without them asking – essentially bringing Firefox’s security quality down to the same level as IE. Way to go knuckleheads. • source

24 Sep 2009 10:50

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Tech: Regarding Google Chrome Frame, Microsoft lays a line of BS

  • It doesn’t even matter what they say after this half-quote: “Given the security issues with plugins in general and Google Chrome in particular…” everybody should download Google Chrome Frame now? Is that what you’re gonna tell us, Microsoft spokesperson, about the plugin that Google made to make Web developers’ lives easier because you made a sucky browser called Internet Explorer 6? OHHHHHHHH NO. “… Google Chrome Frame running as a plugin has doubled the attach area for malware and malicious scripts. This is not a risk we would recommend our friends and families take.” Shut up, Microsoft. You’re just fearmongering. source

10 Aug 2009 23:50

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Tech: Microsoft: We want to get rid of Internet Explorer 6, but we can’t

  • The engineering point of view on IE6 starts as an operating systems supplier. Dropping support for IE6 is not an option because we committed to supporting the IE included with Windows for the lifespan of the product.
  • Dean Hachamovitch, the guy in charge of the Internet Explorer team • Describing the problems that Microsoft has with getting people to upgrade from that crappy browser they made almost a decade ago. “The choice to upgrade software on a PC belongs to the person responsible for the PC,” he notes, and says that many people responsible for PCs are organizations, not individual users. While developers will encourage IE users to upgrade, “We will also continue to respect their choice, because their browser is their choice.” • source
 

14 Jul 2009 10:59

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Tech: Major Web sites like YouTube and Digg are dropping IE6 support

  • YouTube The Google-owned video service recently started displaying on IE6 a message that they would be dropping support for the browser soon, recommending that users switch to Chrome, IE8 or Safari, a message met with cheers by some. (Including us!)
  • Digg While Digg isn’t nearly so hardcore about the switch, they have been investigating it, and will likely be ditching login support for IE6. They found that many IE6 users can’t upgrade because companies are lazy and built on crappy, poorly-made IE6-only Web apps.

20 Mar 2009 10:37

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Politics, Tech: Microsoft’s IE8 is out – is it any good? Let’s ask the Interweb!

12 Mar 2009 10:45

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Tech: Microsoft says IE8 is faster than Firefox and Chrome. Yeah, right.

See, they put together giant chart to prove it, guys! It’s a chart! It must be true! source