France Tells Its Citizens To Abandon IE, Others Disagree 406
Freistoss writes "Microsoft still has not released a patch for a major zero-day flaw in IE6 that was used by Chinese hackers to attack Google. After sample code was posted on a website, calls began for Microsoft to release an out-of-cycle patch. Now, France has joined Germany in recommending its citizens abandon IE altogether, rather than waiting for a patch. Microsoft still insists IE8 is the 'most secure browser on the market' and that they believe IE6 is the only browser susceptible to the flaw. However, security researchers warned that could soon change, and recommended considering alternative browsers as well." PCWorld seems to be taking the opposite stance arguing that blaming IE for attacks is a dangerous approach that could cause a false sense of security.
Wait a second.... (Score:5, Funny)
France and Germany agree on something?
The IE threat must be greater than previously imagined. Or...something.
Re:Importance of Competitive Choices (Score:1, Funny)
This incident underscores the importance of fighting monopolies and ensuring the availability of competitive choices. If Microsoft had succeeded in driving all other browsers out of the market in 2000, then today, we would not have any other choice and would be forced to use a browser with a dangerous security risk.
We should applaud the recent work by the European Commission in demanding that Microsoft design their European version of Windows to allow users to choose the browser that they want -- thus, allowing them to never install Internet Explorer. The European Commission has been better advocate of free-market competition than the American Federal Trade Commission.
Therein lies a bit of irony. Washington often claims that the USA is a freer free market than the European Union. Yet, the Union is the political body which hit -- hard -- Microsoft's anticompetitive behavior.
Hell No! Microsoft is an American company - AMERICAN!
WE are the only ones that can pick on them - not those cigarette smoking - wine sipping - half-assed socialist - high tax - cowardly - freedom hating - Europeans!
It's one thing for us to bitch and moan about MS -we're Americans - but the Europeans!? Hell no! MS brings MONEY into the US! They provide jobs to Americans!
Wait [ourfuture.org] a tic [bloomberg.com], I think I'll change my mind [microsoft-watch.com].
Ah, fuck'em.
Re:False sense of security (Score:4, Funny)
PCWorld seems to be taking the opposite stance arguing that blaming IE for attacks is a dangerous approach that could cause a false sense of security.
Well, of course they'd say that - they are running a PC/Windows/Microsoft magazine, after all.
Well, yes, but what they're saying has some merit. I've known many a novice user that thought that because they used firefox they didn't need an antivirus program or common sense.
They told you they don't need common sense?
This just in... (Score:2, Funny)
And you all laughed (Score:4, Funny)
When I said this was all an elaborate ruse to Market Chrome.
Clearly I'm the only one here parano^H^H^H^H^H^HSensible enough to see whats plainly in front of us.
Take Microsoft vs Google. Google's brand name is made up of 50% vowels, 50% consonants, whereas Microsoft is 33-67. This is a clever method designed to make you think that Google is fairer and wishes to have an equal representation of all letters. However, this is just plain deceiptful, because "Chrome" is only 33% vowels wheras "IE" (we'll abbreviate it) is 100% vowels, thus making up for the lack of vowels in "Microsoft". There are also even spreads across such MS products as "Office" and "Live". Apple has felt the need to keep up with the proper representation of vowels by throwing in a single lowercase i in front of every one of their new products. Good on them.
So I know what you're thinking: What do vowels and consonants have to do with ACTA and Net Neutrality? Absolutely nothing! But they DO have a lot to do with the recent attacks made against Google. As you can recall, its been recently discovered that the attacks originated in China. Surprising to some people, English has not been fully adopted yet, and many Chinese citizens still speak Mandarin and that other language no one can remember. All traditional chinese languages use characters, not letters. (To those who program or are DBA's, a letter is what normal people call a char). Now, what is Mandarin missing that English has? You guessed it; VOWELS. It's clear and obvious that Google is behind all of it. What the end goal is, I'm not entirely sure, I'm still trying to connect the dots.
What's important about this article is that its happening in FRANCE. This is a bit of a PR stunt for France. You see, everyone hates Microsoft, and everyone hates France. This hurts the French industries of exporting Cheese, Wine, and arrogant behavior. So France is hoping that by declaring they hate Microsoft as well, everyone will look on them in a better light. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THIS. If people start liking the French more, Baguettes will be everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Breakfast lunch and dinner. Baguettes at home, baguettes at work, baguette soup, baguette sandwhiches. Don't get me wrong I like a baguette every now and then but if we let them get a single foothold on the breadmarket they will take it over completely. There is nothing stronger then the relentless pursuits of a French Bunmaster.
So please, everyone, I beg of you. Keep using IE8, if you already do. Not because its secure, because it isn't. Not because of Google, no matter how evil they secretly are...
But because the standard loaf shape of bread is under attack, and if we don't come to defend it, no one will.
Shouldn't the title be rephrased? (Score:1, Funny)
"France Surrenders the Browser War"
Re:Tear down (Score:5, Funny)
The main thing to keep in mind is that these attacks go beyond Internet Explorer and that simply switching browsers is not an adequate defense.
This is completely absurd FUD.
It's not. What they say is exactly correct: hat these attacks go beyond Internet Explorer and that simply switching browsers is not an adequate defense.
FF has flaws too. An adequate defense would be to install McAfee© VirusScan Plus, McAfee© Total Protection, McAfee© Online Backup, McAfee© SiteAdvisor Plus and McAfee© Anti-Theft File Protection.
There! *NOW* you are protected!
Re:Don't switch? (Score:1, Funny)
It's a little known fact, but the big bang was actually caused by a side-by-side installation of Internet Explorer 10 and Firefox 5 in the last universe.
Re:Wait a second.... (Score:3, Funny)
nah, that's not that far fetched. Now if *England* and France agreed on something... Well, thats one of the signs of the apocalypse
Re:This just in... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Tear down (Score:4, Funny)
Nice! Though I suppose you could save a little bit of time and just put a bullet through your harddrive...
Re:And you all laughed (Score:3, Funny)
I was surprised when I looked at poster name in this one and didn't see BadAnalogyGuy...
Re:Importance of Competitive Choices (Score:2, Funny)
Re:And you all laughed (Score:5, Funny)