Dutch won't warn against using Internet Explorer

[Puffin13]

Dutch won't warn against using Internet Explorer
19/01/2010

Microsoft has become the latest victim of an elaborate cyber-hacking plot originating in China.

Amsterdam--But while French and German web users have been told to avoid Internet Explorer, the Dutch government has no plans to issue a similar warning.

Hackers published a malicious code online last week, making it possible to remotely access people’s personal computers by installing software on them when they visit certain sites using Internet Explorer. Several US companies were targeted by the scam and Germany and France warned users they should not use Microsoft’s browser.

"Cyber war"

The move comes just a week after Google threatened to pull out of the Chinese market over alleged hacking. The situation could be described as “cyber war” according to Professor Bart Jacobs of the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands:

“They can basically take over the entire computer, they can install key-loggers so they can find your password and any kind of personal information you have on your computer. So, it’s a really serious problem not only for Microsoft but for the entire world. We are so dependent on these kinds of fundamental infrastructures.”

Alarm bells started ringing last week when Google threatened to pull out of the Chinese market completely after it emerged hackers had broken into activists’ email accounts. The company is the second largest player in the world’s fastest-growing economy and some analysts argued the decision was based on its inability to overtake the Chinese-run browser Baidu, rather than real concern about security.

Pointless warning

Microsoft has insisted its Internet Explorer browsers are safe, telling the BBC “the risk is minimal.” And the Dutch government says it won’t follow the example set by its neighbours. There’s no point warning computer users to swap to another browser because none of them are completely safe, according to Ella Broos from the Dutch internet security agency Govcert:

“We don’t see a lot of abuse of this vulnerability [in Internet Explorer] so we think the threat is not big enough to give such a warning… Mostly we give a warning and at the same time we offer advice about the solution, and how to fix this. At the moment there is no solution so when we warn computer users, we create more panic than is necessary.”

Source

[cantona7]

im a firefox man myself...hope bill gates doesn't drive the 30 miles to my house and burn it down

[the happy hacker]

i'm a Mac man.......no DOS no problem....

[Valo]

People still use IE??!!??

[TRANCE]

Having a hobby with web design I use IE, Firefox and Opera as you have to sort out design incompatibilities with each browser.

I like Firefox myself with the personalised themes/widgets, etc.

[Woob]

There are very very huge ads for google chrome as you walk out of the train station to damrak.Maybe that`ll help.

[Dobern]

Chrome ftw!

[geoffk]

Yeah IE sux, but I still need to use it, as I like the way it handles FTP sites.

[Pauli Wallnuts]

i use ie, firefox is to slow on my computer, i dont understand why people dont like ie, as long as i can use the internet with ease im happy

[Twichaldinho]

i use ie, firefox is to slow on my computer, i dont understand why people dont like ie, as long as i can use the internet with ease im happy

Same. TBH, I never knew there was alternatives till a few months ago. My Brother uses Firefox, I hate using his PC.
Better the devil ya know.

[Valo]

IE is notoriously known for having bad spyware and such, and also is generally a lot slower than most other operating systems.

I'm not one of those people who think it is cool to dislike Microsoft but i can see why most large companies and universities don't have IE as the default browser anymore.

I also do some basic web design, so have to use it at times though.