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MAKE SURE YOUR IE IS PATCHED! | by Peace_man | 2007-11-29 10:02:33 |
| Not ascared... |
by SQLRat |
2007-11-29 14:15:21 |
I use any browser that works for the work I have to do.
To throw out one browser simply because it gets more attacks against it seems silly to me.
In a way, to use a popular browser can actually reduce risk faster over time.
How?
Let us assume that IE has 75% of the browser market because of it's default distribution model. This number is for sake of discussion so just go with this for now.
This likely means that a larger percentage (75%+)of the people that are trying to create viruses and hacks for browsers are focusing on IE because of that larger target base.
A person that creates a virus is usually trying to effect the biggest impact to get the most out of his or her efforts. What they get out of it is another discussion altogether, but suffice it to say that they are doing it for some reason and the amount of success is usually based upon the broadness of impact.
In other words, if more people are using IE, and a virus writer wants a big rep among my other dubious associates, he/she will focus efforts on IE.
With that situation, we have more attacks on the IE browser.
Any vulnerability that is discovered in IE usually gets industry attention. Microsoft then provides patches to IE to keep it's relationships with the computer industry alive.
As long as users implement the patches, the security vulnerabilities that came with the original IE start to become less and less. Certainly, not every user is up on patching their systems, but I feel that culturally that will change as well.
The kids being raised with computers today will likely find this to be as normal as getting a haircut or knowing how to change a flat tire on an automobile.
At the same time, we have these other browsers that have a lesser part of the browser market.
These are obviously not as integrated with the Windows OS, but they do still provide similar functionality in order to provide the same browser experience as IE.
Since they do not have the same volume of attacks against them, the number of vulnerabilities that may exist in the original distributions remain less "uncovered" and probably not reported. The vendor may not learn about it as quickly... if at all, depending on the nature of the attack.
Now imagine that Microsoft suddenly gets some horribly bad press and there is a major shift in the browser market.
This will in turn shift the virus writers focus toward the next popular browser.
Add some time and a bit of caffiene to allow the new attacks to be written and TADA!!... we have another browser that appears to be "laced with holes".
You could probably use the above example to represent any software industry focus.
Software like browsers and OS's are very complex.
Software is also designed and written by (*shudders*) human beings!!
This means that complex software will likely have bugs, vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies that can ironically present similar characteristics like the bugs, vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies of human nature.
All we can hope is that over time, and with positive human diligence, that the software will evolve to reduce the risk.
hmmm...
My apoligies for the rant...
I just can't buy into the notion of one browser being better than another except in cases where a website is written for a sepecific browser.
If the software works, I use it.
I don't care who wrote it as long as the creators are making an attempt to fix what is found to be broken.
If they are not trying to fix it... then I don't use it.
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