ALERT: Serious Internet Explorer Flaw Discovered

How can I safely download Mozilla Firefox without using IE? If someone downloads the installation file and sends it to me in email or Skype, can I put that on my computer and run it? Thank you for your constant and generous help.

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's safe to download Firefox via IE. The flaw can only be exploited by visiting a compromised website.

To be clear - just using IE does not put you at risk. You still have to click on a link on a compromised website.

So if you were only using it on known good links you would be safe (which is why using it to download Chrome or Firefox is safe).

However if you casually surf or use Facebook or other sites where people post links that you might follow - you absolutely should not be using it for that kind of behaviour.

http://recode.net/2014/04/27/new-vulnerability-hits-internet-explorer-and-its-serious/

Hi Bob,

Thank you for another one of your invaluable posts!
FWIW, I despise Microsoft. The best description I can assign to them is, arrogance and incompetence in action.

Is the danger still there if IE is used by an "regular User" account that does NOT have administrative privileges?

EDITOR'S NOTE: To the best of my knowledge, yes. What I read said that an attacker could assume the same privileges as the affected user.

Hi, is it safe to import my favorites list into firefox? I didn't do it, but it would make my life much easier! Thanks! Couldn't survive without your information!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, that's safe.

Can one just delete the IE off their computor? Since it has internet options etc, is that part of IE?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Because Internet Explorer is a Windows feature, you can't uninstall it. But there's no need anyway, just don't use it.

Since FireFox V29.0 was just released this week, it may be an opportune time to install it in your system. But you also should spend some time to customize it with some "Add-Ons" and "themes" to truly make it a very robust browser. After all, you don't walk out of the house in your skivvies and without some protective add-ons, FireFox is really in the buff!

I understand the risk of using Windows XP now that it is no longer supported, and in fact I persuaded my daughter to get a new computer a month ago for just that reason, but I don't see what this problem has to do with Windows XP. Presuming that Microsoft gets around to fixing the problem and issues a new safer version of Internet Explorer, why can't XP users just install that new IE version to protect themselves against this exploit?

EDITOR'S NOTE: IE8 is the latest version of IE that you can install on XP. And IE8 is not going to be patched, at least not for XP.

Hi Bob, Virus scan like Avast (free edition) is it capable to detect this flaw and fix it?

EDITOR'S NOTE: As I understand the facts, no.

The main reason I didn't switch to Chrome until I heard of this ulcer is all my favourites were EI.
Surprize! It is just a click to to import.
I will probably stay with Chrome now because it is not productive to switch back and forth. Familiarity is a big speed enhancer.

Thanks Bob. Much apreciated here down-under as well.
Keep up the good work
Ed

I love how this is and is always reported like IE and windows are always vulnerable to exploitation.

I wonder if firefox was to really become the most commonly used browser in the world (as opposed to the myth that goes about on certain sites), how long it would take for it to become the main target for exploiters.

Thanks for the update though!

Since AOL uses IE shold I worry about logging on there?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Years ago, AOL used to distribute a custom version of IE. I think those days are long gone. You can safely access the AOL website and their online services with any browser now.

Hmmm... May have used IE for a few weeks while looking for a replacement browser. I couldn't get away from it fast enough! Netscape was my choice in the 1990s, and Firefox followed when Netscape expired. I suppose many chose to use IE because it was right there in their face, the path of least resistance. There is the possibility some of these internet users are also the least computer savvy, and most at risk.

I am currently exploring Ubuntu. Brother says, "about time!". - 77 and still learning :-)

Just read some good news that includes XP users as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/know-internet-explorer-fix-174420237--abc-news-topstories.html

I am also a Tourbus alum. Bob, does using Avant browser which uses IE platform also dangerous? Thanks.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't know for sure, but I would think YES. The Avant forums are strangely silent on the issue.

Whew ... This is a biggie!!! Most of us, those who have computer knowledge and have had computers, for quite awhile now ... Know that Microsoft's Internet Explorer - IE - hasn't been the best browser, for a long, long time. Please, I am not getting into the "Browser Wars" issues, either. Microsoft in general, has had many, many multiple security, vulnerable issues, for almost 2 decades. This is one reason, for the routine Microsoft Security Updates, right???

It really has been a long time, since, I have used IE, as my main browser. Mainly, because of all the security issues. BUT ... I do have IE on my computer ... It just comes with the Microsoft Windows Operating System. So, I have taken the precautions, that you mentioned, hoping that Microsoft will have a possible "patch" ... Sometime, in the near future. I do get my "Security Patches" from Microsoft. I totally, adhere to the concept ... An ounce of prevention ... Is better than a pound of cure!!!

Thanks Bob, for giving us several methods, to address this issue. :)

Just before I logged on to this site I got an auto update for IE8 and I'm running XP! So, Bob, as of May 2, there's a patch for this on XP.
oh, I know - I'm in process of going to Ubuntu.

Surprise!!! Surprise!!! Surprise!!! I can't believe it, either ... Microsoft, just this EARLY AM ... Updated for the Internet Explorer Flaw!!!

I am totally surprised, just like you were, Bob. This was a BIGGIE, otherwise, MS would have waited, until the next Patch Tuesday. Heavens ... It only took MS 6 days, to make this patch/correction!!!

I thank the stars above, that I DO have my Auto-Windows Update on 24/7, for MS Tuesday Patches. I even had the settings, for MS to go ahead and simply download the patch(es), install them and to restart my PC, if, it is necessary. This way, it was done.

I just happened, to have been on the computer, messing with a game, not working right, that I had just purchased. I had been uninstalling and installing the game ... When, I saw, that there was a "count-down" for restarting the PC. It was then, that I noticed, it was for a Windows Update. I immediately knew, what the update was for. I have been a Windows user, since, Sept. 1996 ... And, I honestly do not ever recall, a Windows Update, on a Saturday morning!!!

As they say ... Try to always be prepared ... You just never know. LOL :)

my laptop ie, has been frozen by someone, and the site tells me that a graphics crashed/ broken, and gives the phone number
1877-511-2830 for a fix for a fee
how can I report these thieves, and can Microsoft stop them?