Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Frost"
<bob@f...> wrote:
 
> Why should Microsoft thank me? You've got it round the wrong way
again. I  thank Microsoft for providing me with the means of
protecting my computer from the nutters out there, and yours is the
'risk' is in not having that protection.
> 
I now stay away from anything Microsoft if I can help it. I no longer
use their Internet Explorer nor their Outlook mail program. The
security holes in those programs as evidenced by the countless
security updates is to say the least, scary. 

It is generally thought that Microsoft's Internet Explorer has about
95% of the market to itself. This is changing. According to Reuters,
only 53% of those who connect to the popular site www.engadget.com use
Internet Explorer. Others are Firefox 20%, Safari 11.3%, Opera 2.5%.

Internet Explorer has yet to offer tabbed browsing which is present in
the other internet browsers. Microsoft was late in blocking pop-up
windows. And Internet Explorer is a lightning rod for those nutters
out there.

According to Internet Storm Center (ISC), an unprotected computer
(security updates not installed)has about 20 minutes survival time
before it becomes infected by viruses. This short lapse of time is
worrysome according to ISC, because it's shorter than the time it
takes to install the security updates once the security breach are known.

The last Internet Explorer breach called the "drag and drop"  was
discovered on august 19th and was still uncorrected as of sept 23rd.
It is used to install, unknown to the user, a malware called Agent.ce
According to F-Secure, this could turn an infected computer into a
spam sending machine.

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/agent_ce.shtml

There is an underground market where can spammers buy the use of
infected computers. These are sold in lots of 10,000 or more.

Andre Moreau