IE Is The Only Secure Browser? Please
by Wyatt WalterIt’s no secret that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has been taking a beating over the past week. After all, Google, the world’s most popular search engine company has blamed a vulnerability in IE for allowing attacks on its systems. After Microsoft admitted it was indeed a flaw in IE that made the attacks possible, the German government released a statement urging people to switch browsers and a similar statement from the government in France soon followed. Microsoft obviously came back with a statement urging users that those governments’ advise was far too strong of a reaction.
Part if Microsoft’s message was spot-on. Switching to a different browser due to a single flaw is a really over-dramatic reaction to the situation. If I immediately stopped using any product that had a vulnerability, I would communicate with no one. Even physical mail can be stolen and has been stolen in the past, therefore one would be forced to live in a hole in the ground, not communicating at all. I would recommend not using IE for far bigger reasons than this single vulnerability, but switching solely because of this is purely sensationalism.
On the other hand, the rest of Microsoft’s message was taken to the opposite extreme. They responded by informing users that switching to a different browser would lead them to an even greater threat. Quoting from Cliff Evans at Microsoft (via TechRadar.com):
The net effect of switching [from IE] is that you will end up on less secure browser
The risk [over this specific] exploit is minimal compared to Firefox or other competing browsers… you will be opening yourself up to security issues.
I’m not aware that the vulnerability exists in other products, but those products may have other vulnerabilities.
As much as I want to say that was intended as a joke, it’s not. Yup, instead of using products that might have vulnerabilities that Microsoft’s UK Security Chief “isn’t aware of”, users should feel comfortable using a browser that has known vulnerabilities used in a real life attack. No, I’m not switching up my stance that users should switch purely for this one incident, but to claim IE as the only secure browser in the world is absolutely ridiculous and laughable. IE’s history doesn’t help it much, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one and let that part go.
Tags: internet explorer, microsoft, security
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Jan 19th, 2010
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