A major security bug has been found in versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer from IE6 to IE11 (inclusive.) Microsoft say they’re working on a fix for it, but it won’t apply to Windows XP. The bug has already been exploited by a group of sophisticated hackers targeting companies involved in American defence contracts. UK, US, and Australian governments have advised people not to use IE until a fix is available, suggesting they use Google Chrome or Firefox instead.

Miscrosoft’s security advisory: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2963983
A report of the bug in Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/microsoft-rushes-to-fix-browser-after-attacks-no-fix-for-xp-users-20140428-zr0p1.html
US DHS Computer Emergency Readiness advisory: http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2014/04/28/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-Use-After-Free-Vulnerability-Being
Australian Government advisory: http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/alert_service/alerts/microsoft_warns_of_vulnerability_being_targeted_in_internet_explorer_sso_alert_priority_high#.U17fxOaSx-s

this is going to be a real problem for anyone still living in 2005

Way ahead of you, US, UK, Aust governments

Thank gawd I haven’t moved from Netscape.

I’m still using World Wide Web Nexus

Firefox here. IE has been deleted.

So is this really necessary?

Bubblecar said:

So is this really necessary?

I had a nice Indian lady phone me from Microsoft this afternoon, so yes it looks like it’s pretty damn serious.

Pity the line dropped out when I asked her what she was seeing on my screen, but I’m sure she’ll be calling back any time now.

OK I’m using Chrome, but I don’t like it.

What do you like?

I prefer IE.

Bubblecar said:

I prefer IE.

Not a phrase one reads much.

For example, Chrome is making the screen blink brightly every time I click on new posts. And they want me to sign in, which IE never does.

Bubblecar said:

For example, Chrome is making the screen blink brightly every time I click on new posts. And they want me to sign in, which IE never does.

That’s weird.

I totally gave up on IE when we found that it was the only browser in the entire universe that couldn’t handle our FTP address.

Still, can’t deny that it has been more of a stayer than I thought it would. After all this time it is the third most commonly used browser.

(Interestingly, according to the map on WP, the sizable countries where IE is still the dominant browser are China, Japan, Congo, PNG and Greenland)

Bubblecar said:

For example, Chrome is making the screen blink brightly every time I click on new posts. And they want me to sign in, which IE never does.

I had the blinking thing this morning. But it was flashing and it kept going and there was only a flashing screen. I turned everything off and started again. That was on the new computer with 8 and Chrome.