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I would like to know what everyone here thinks about this article. I have just started reading it and it appears to boast Internet Explorer's ability to protect you from malicious links. I know bad URLs aren't the only way to get infected, but it may very common.
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Users still are part of the security system. But today you find some that still write "I have Norton so it can't be a virus."
The socially engineered threats still work.
Bob
One of the greatest strengths of Firefox and Chrome is their extensive extension selection. You can customize then browsers nearly any way you wish, including adding additional layers of security, ranging from link scanners to Javascript restrictions to website background checks. Out of the box, IE9 has some significant advantages over competing browsers, but it is a far different story when you consider the full realm of options available to users.
John
I always figured the worst threat was the user himself. Depends on what you are willing to click on. A little common sense and good judgment can go a long way. All these phishing scemes don't care which browser you're using. And if you "invite" a nasty bug in through your email, well, again, what's your browser going to do.
That is one of the reasons why IE is still considered the most vulnerable.
In Windows, "Explorer" is everything, the Desktop, the GUI, My Computer, My Documents, Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. A decade or more ago Microsoft integrated all these explorers into the OS so they worked together.
But that means that IE has a pathway into the OS and into our personal files, and that is risky, in my view.
But you're right, Microsoft is getting better at it. Chrome is leading the charge against IE nowadays with Firefox close behind but slipping a little. My own theory is that malware writers tend to write code for the most popular browser because it increases the chance of reaching most users. Let's see if that changes if IE loses its lead.
And you are also right to acknowledge that the weak link here is us, the users.
Mark
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