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Technical News & Discussion => Windows News & Discussion => Topic started by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 09:07:53

Title: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 09:07:53
Just one day after a little-known hacker dazzled his peers by exploiting the latest version of Internet Explorer 8 beta, Microsoft added an important protection to the browser that probably would have prevented the attack.

The measure, which was added to last Thursday's final release of IE8, restores so-called ASLR, or address space layout randomization, and DEP, or data execution prevention, to the Microsoft browser
If the speculation proves correct, it means one of the safer ways to browse the internet is by using IE8 on Vista or Windows 7. At least for now

You just cannot win, one day IE8 is the bad guy then the next its not, it does seem OS dependant though so maybe IE8 is the safest way to browse on vista and windows 7  just not XP :dunno:
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 09:09:04
Maybe we should all buy Macs, Gary. :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 12:08:49
Quote from: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 09:09:04
Maybe we should all buy Macs, Gary. :)
I agree except Safari is now meant to be the most hackable browser (security reviews change almost hourly these days and never agree), maybe we should all just buy paper and envelopes, send leters and telephone people and buy things from shops, oh I forgot records of all our sms and phone calls are kept now  :evil:
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:12:05
I'm off to a nice Pacific island. :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 12:13:42
If we all bought Macs, the virus writers would change their targets, and Windows would be the safe OS!
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:15:59
BBC BASIC was pretty safe. :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 12:17:05
Quote from: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 12:13:42
If we all bought Macs, the virus writers would change their targets, and Windows would be the safe OS!
Thats a bizarre thought, but probably true Simon, what's the point in hacking a product with a 6% market share, the thing is more people are seeing the benefits of macs. personally I prefer sowesters  :out:
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 12:17:25
Quote from: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:15:59
BBC BASIC was pretty safe. :)
and .....basic  ;D
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:19:08
I managed to do a few useful things with it, Gary, but I guess it would seem fairly primitive now. :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Gary on Mar 25, 2009, 12:22:54
Quote from: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:19:08
I managed to do a few useful things with it, Gary, but I guess it would seem fairly primitive now. :)
It was great in its day, I just think we have got to the point sometimes where we just expect the net and computers just to always work qand maybe do just a little to much, and forget how hard hackers want to disrupt it now, and not always for cash either, chaos seems as good a reason as any these days
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:26:24
A bit like the bankers, you mean. :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Sebby on Mar 25, 2009, 13:20:57
Quote from: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 12:13:42
If we all bought Macs, the virus writers would change their targets, and Windows would be the safe OS!

In some ways you're right, although Macs are much more secure anyway, Mac OS being based on Unix.
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 13:24:48
Yes, but wouldn't Windows be secure, if nobody tried to break into it?
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Sebby on Mar 25, 2009, 13:28:51
Hmm. But if it can be broken into, it's not inherently secure. I appreciate that Windows has most of the market share, and so it's going to be targetted, but I don't believe that there is no one out there who wants to write viruses for the Mac. I feel it would have happened in a more prominent way if it was as easy as Windows.
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 13:44:37
I take the point, Seb.  All I'm saying is, if you live on a desert island, your house is less likely to be burgled, but does that actually make the house itself more secure?
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 15:26:41
And your first record is... :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 16:41:37
Currently, probably Angel by Sarah McLachlan, or Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy.  :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 16:47:42
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Glenn on Mar 25, 2009, 16:51:06
Without you - Harry Neilson
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 16:51:44
Great track.  :thumb:
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Glenn on Mar 25, 2009, 16:54:04
My all time favoutite track.
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 16:55:30
Quote from: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 16:47:42
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Yes, wonderful rendition.  :)

I'd also have to take Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin.
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 17:01:20
Love of my life - Queen
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 17:41:06
In which case - It's Late.  One of my top 3 Queen songs.
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: john on Mar 25, 2009, 17:54:55
Quote from: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 12:15:59
BBC BASIC was pretty safe. :)

Not the stuff that I wrote  >:D


I we're going to live on a dessert island then how about Status Quo's - Living On An Island or Demis Roussos's - Happy To Be On An Island In The Sun  ;D
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 17:58:22
Harry Belafonte's Island in the Sun?
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Glenn on Mar 25, 2009, 18:37:07
Typically Tropical Whooo, I'm going to Barbados
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Rik on Mar 25, 2009, 18:37:34
The Dark Island? :)
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 20:44:04
Islands In The Stream?
Title: Re: IE8 is not as bad as was first thought security wise
Post by: Sebby on Mar 26, 2009, 00:19:39
Quote from: Simon on Mar 25, 2009, 13:44:37
I take the point, Seb.  All I'm saying is, if you live on a desert island, your house is less likely to be burgled, but does that actually make the house itself more secure?

I don't believe Macs are more secure because of their low market share. I think they're more secure than Windows. But I do agree that Windows is more targeted as well.