See? It's not just me! Take that, me-bashers

[eldad9]

The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) recommends internet explorer users consider switching to other browsers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6746-2004Jun25.html

Are they getting paid by mozilla too?

[bignick]

what-evar

[punqsux]

i switched to foxfire a couple months ago and there are really no advantages to ie, pages load much faster on it and ive never gotten a single pop up (the ie google bar let one by every few days)

[JSweeney]

Hmm, the vast majority of people use IE. Most websites are tuned to specifically use IE. IE is the default standard. I wonder why people program exploits and such to take advantage of IE?

It's not that the other web browsers are worlds better than IE... it's that the userbases of them are so small compared to IE that they don't get the dedicated hackers, exploiters and greifers that IE has to deal with.

(Of course, thats not saying that in some ways that other browsers aren't better than IE).

[PsyClerk]

I still bash you, just out of spite. Now what? Yeah, that's what I thought.

[bignick]

Hmm, the vast majority of people use IE. Most websites are tuned to specifically use IE. IE is the default standard. I wonder why people program exploits and such to take advantage of IE?

It's not that the other web browsers are worlds better than IE... it's that the userbases of them are so small compared to IE that they don't get the dedicated hackers, exploiters and greifers that IE has to deal with.

(Of course, thats not saying that in some ways that other browsers aren't better than IE).

Same thing applies to windows. You the man JS!

[WeaponX2099]

Hmm, the vast majority of people use IE. Most websites are tuned to specifically use IE. IE is the default standard. I wonder why people program exploits and such to take advantage of IE?

It's not that the other web browsers are worlds better than IE... it's that the userbases of them are so small compared to IE that they don't get the dedicated hackers, exploiters and greifers that IE has to deal with.

(Of course, thats not saying that in some ways that other browsers aren't better than IE).

Same thing applies to windows. You the man JS!

I agree. Why spend tons of time trying to breakdown and exploit a program that maybe at the most 500,000 people have, when you can go after the 20 million and laugh when you wreak havoc and anarchy upon their unsuspecting souls.

[WhipSmartBanky]

That's why there are very few viruses for Macs. You'd have to be a REAL loser to want to spend time working on those.

[eldad9]

\
I agree. Why spend tons of time trying to breakdown and exploit a program that maybe at the most 500,000 people have, when you can go after the 20 million and laugh when you wreak havoc and anarchy upon their unsuspecting souls.

Especially since you're practically guaranteed to find an exploit in IE, and it won't be patched for days or weeks, which open source alternatives are much more secure (because they don't try to do any microsoft proprietary stuff, for instance) and any bugs will probably be patched in under 24 hours.

[JSweeney]

\
I agree. Why spend tons of time trying to breakdown and exploit a program that maybe at the most 500,000 people have, when you can go after the 20 million and laugh when you wreak havoc and anarchy upon their unsuspecting souls.

Especially since you're practically guaranteed to find an exploit in IE, and it won't be patched for days or weeks, which open source alternatives are much more secure (because they don't try to do any microsoft proprietary stuff, for instance) and any bugs will probably be patched in under 24 hours.

You have entirely too much faith in the open source community.

[jmcc]

\
I agree. Why spend tons of time trying to breakdown and exploit a program that maybe at the most 500,000 people have, when you can go after the 20 million and laugh when you wreak havoc and anarchy upon their unsuspecting souls.

Especially since you're practically guaranteed to find an exploit in IE, and it won't be patched for days or weeks, which open source alternatives are much more secure (because they don't try to do any microsoft proprietary stuff, for instance) and any bugs will probably be patched in under 24 hours.

You have entirely too much faith in the open source community.

Tens of thousands of eyes analyzing a problem are better than hundreds, though.

[JSweeney]

\
I agree. Why spend tons of time trying to breakdown and exploit a program that maybe at the most 500,000 people have, when you can go after the 20 million and laugh when you wreak havoc and anarchy upon their unsuspecting souls.

Especially since you're practically guaranteed to find an exploit in IE, and it won't be patched for days or weeks, which open source alternatives are much more secure (because they don't try to do any microsoft proprietary stuff, for instance) and any bugs will probably be patched in under 24 hours.

You have entirely too much faith in the open source community.

Tens of thousands of eyes analyzing a problem are better than hundreds, though.

True, but as a volunteer task, exactly how many of these people do you think actually bring thier "A" game?

[PsyClerk]

They probably bring their cheapass game.

/hangs head in shame

[defender]

Hmm, the vast majority of people use IE. Most websites are tuned to specifically use IE. IE is the default standard. I wonder why people program exploits and such to take advantage of IE?

It's not that the other web browsers are worlds better than IE... it's that the userbases of them are so small compared to IE that they don't get the dedicated hackers, exploiters and greifers that IE has to deal with.

(Of course, thats not saying that in some ways that other browsers aren't better than IE).

The majority of servers are LAMP (linux, apache, mysql and php) yet most internet servers that are attacked are Windows.. so there goes that arguement about how attackers look for the majority to exploit. The fact is that hackers look to exploit EASY targets which is a windows based system. While I am still on XP. It will be my last one...next system will be FreeBSD running wine. No matter what I have to do I aint buying another MS product. I already use programs like Opera, Gimp, and Open Office. Password and credit card stealing is one reason why I dont want ANY of that info saved on my computer. It's not that hard to just type it when needed. I refuse to sign up for passport as well. One day all those that have may find credit card charges suddenly on their statements. I imagine hackers and dying to bust the Passport servers open. If they ever succeed it will cause immense havok. I wouldnt be suprised if the those servers were FreeBSD.

[Moxio]

I switched over to Firefox just yesterday, and it's alright.

I just wish they could patch IE up somehow.

[JSweeney]

The majority of servers are LAMP (linux, apache, mysql and php) yet most internet servers that are attacked are Windows.. so there goes that arguement about how attackers look for the majority to exploit.

Actually, that's the part I really wasn't discussing. I was talking more about the client exploits and not the server.. the stuff which would be totally in the domain of IE and not Microsoft's IIS stuff.
I hate Microsoft server softwares and tools.. they're more expensive, somewhat less useful, and more apt to be hit with a server exploit.

The fact is that hackers look to exploit EASY targets which is a windows based system.

Easy targets are usually based on the skill of those setting them up.. there are many poorly configured webservers of every variety.
I think Microsoft products just appeal more to those who don't care to patch up thier software all the time and recompile the OS after they are done.


While I am still on XP. It will be my last one...next system will be FreeBSD running wine. No matter what I have to do I aint buying another MS product. I already use programs like Opera, Gimp, and Open Office.

I can respect that much more than the people that bitch about how bad windows is and then sit down and write thier little rants on a windows based system. I have no great love for Microsoft products, but I have no great hate for it either. Of course, part of that is probably my manager's insistance that the content management system tool that I and other members of my team have programmed be on a windows based system... you learn to live within the constraints placed upon you.


Password and credit card stealing is one reason why I dont want ANY of that info saved on my computer.

Yeah, but that's only common sense.


It's not that hard to just type it when needed.
Very true.

I refuse to sign up for passport as well. One day all those that have may find credit card charges suddenly on their statements. I imagine hackers and dying to bust the Passport servers open. If they ever succeed it will cause immense havok.

I refuse to as well, but it's more because of the privacy issues I think it rasies moreso that the security issues. Both are rather compelling, however.

I wouldnt be suprised if the those servers were FreeBSD.
Well, it would give them a scapegoat if the servers ever did fall.