Don't use Internet Explorer | Paragon Network (guy from Elevator Up & 7dots)

Don’t use Internet Explorer

Thanks to IE’s security holes, someone can install a bug on your system that furishes them with your banking passwords. And IE is still the most popular web browser on earth. This is totally and completely insane.

To be honest - I have a huge essay on this issue and I’ve been toying with the idea of developing a site that can show people why they shouldn’t use Internet Explorer and what else is out there.

This issue is more than some guy that doesn’t like Microsoft or someone that thinks everyone should be using some off brand solution because of some small feature that nobody will ever use. Microsoft is simply not making a good browser and though I’ve been saying that for years (along with thousands of others out there), it’s finally become a big enough issue where Homeland Security has to step in.

I won’t go into full detail on all the little bugs, security problems, spyware problems, and personal annoyances at this point but let me just give you a reason why you might not want to use Internet Explorer anymore.

This week the U.S. is Steering Consumers Away From IE. According to Homeland Security and even Microsoft - the severity of this is critical.

The particular virus initiated this week inserts Java script into certain Web sites. When users visit those sites, it initiates pop-up ads on home and office computers, and allows keystroke analysis of user information. The target is believed to be credit card numbers. CERT estimated that as many as tens of thousands of Web sites may be affected.

What can you do?

First off I would suggest upgrading your AntiVirus software. If you don’t already have one you’re stupid (seriously). The next step is to do a Windows Update. You should be doing this at least weekly if you aren’t already.

If you think you may already be having problems, I would suggest taking measures to remove the problem.

Download a Secure Browser

After you have done all those things - you should download a browser that doesn’t have these type of problems. There are many out there right now and to be honest - they are all better than Internet Explorer. What I would recommend is to - Download Firefox (it’s FREE). You’ll love it! It stops pop-up windows, spyware, allows you to have multiple websites open in one window, and tons of other things all while looking oh-so-cute.

If you have any problems doing any of this feel free to let me know and I’ll be more than happy to walk you through changing your browser.

Other Articles On This

Internet Explorer Is Just Too Risky - Business Week
How Mozilla’s Firefox trumps Internet Explorer - Slate Magazine
Pop-Up Program Snatches Banking Passwords - eWeek
Abandon Explorer, pros advise - BostonHerald.com
Replace and disable Internet Explorer now - NewsForge
Security risks swell for Microsoft’s Explorer - USA Today
… and much more

posted on July 5, 2004 | 12:15 AM EST

Joel Says:

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Firefox fan, but lets just wait until XP’s service pack 2 comes around. It’s getting a lot of press about being very secure.

Posted at: July 6, 2004 11:09 PM

Aaron Schaap Says:

Yea, right - their Service Pack 2 is definately not very secure. I actually just meet up with some people that went to a bunch of different Microsoft events and said they would not load Service Pack on their computer yet because it has so many holes.

The problem is that they already handed it out to developers and people are already hacking it. Besides that - the IE is not even focusing on IE 6 anymore and in fact, they aren’t even working all that much on the browser at all.

On a few Microsoft dev weblogs and http://channel9.msdn.com/ they have stated this quite clearly. They are spending 90% of their time on Longhorn developments and about 5% on fixing bugs that come up in IE (like the recent one).

PLUS - if you just sit and wait, you’ll still be subjected to everything else that IE doesn’t stop like pop-up windows, doesn’t allow tab browsing, doesn’t stop spyware, and right now allows people to steal your Credit Card and Banking information.

Although this is new it is not uncommon. Think recent PayPal hacks for starters.

Just switch browsers and be done with worrying about it.

Posted at: July 6, 2004 11:28 PM

Another Internet Explorer flaw found

“A computer science researcher has highlighted the shortcomings of Microsoft’s latest patch for its Internet Explorer browser by identifying another way that online vandals could run malicious programs on a Web surfer’s computer.”

Posted at: July 7, 2004 11:36 AM

Brian Ryckbost Says:

Probably the best thing I could have done. I love being able to have different themes for this. one i have goes perfect with my XP theme. Plus, it works so much better than IE.

Posted at: July 8, 2004 9:56 AM

Bill Creswell Says:

“Just switch browsers and be done with worrying about it.” he says….

And just when you think your safe….

Security Update For Firefox/Moz/Thunderbird on Windows

http://www.mozilla.org/security/shell.html

Lesson - don’t worry, but don’t ever stop thinking about it.

Posted at: July 9, 2004 11:29 AM

theParagon