German government warns web surfers to find alternative browser to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer after the firm admitted that IE was used to hack Chinese Human Rights Activists’ Gmail accounts. The BBC reports that the warning comes from Federal Office for Information Security.
However, Microsoft, as usual, rejected the warning saying that the risk was not so high that users have to switch. It said, the risk is low and the browser’s increased security setting would prevent any serious risk. However, German authorities still recommends finding alternative.
When the fact about IE’s role in hacking search giant’s system came, Microsoft Spokesman in Germany said that the particular hack was made by “highly motivated people with a very specific agenda”. The company claims that there were no attacks against general users or consumers, as the BBC reported.
Microsoft recommends settings browser’s security zone to “high” to stay fully safe, however, this removes some functionality and blocks many sites. As a result, users’ surfing will be interrupted if the Internet Explorer’s security settings is set “High”.
The warning includes version 6, 7, and 8 of Microsoft Internet Explorer. German government said that it is hoping that Microsoft will as soon as possible release important security patches to fix the problem of its browsers. But this is not easy. Patches may fix the existing problem creating some new ones. Also, it may not work on all computers. It is a very difficult challenge for Microsoft to release patches for all three versions. To avoid releasing patches, Microsoft said to upgrade to IE’s latest version as it says that the risk is ‘lower’ with more recent versions of the browser.
Have your Say
Did you notice Microsoft has never said that any of its IE’s version is not risky? That means, as long as you’re surfing through Microsoft Internet Explorer, you’re unsafe. So, tell us what you’re thinking. Do you use Internet Explorer? Do you plan to switch? What’s your alternative choice to Internet Explorer? Google Chrome, Safari, Opera, or Mozilla Firefox?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am using chrome and satisfied with it…