In a rare move, US Computer Emergency Readiness Team says to stop using Internet Explorer until Microsoft can plug a critical security hole. The Department of Homeland Security tells people to stop using Internet Explorer 11 and its siblings until a critical bug is patched. Microsoft-News.com
It’s not often that the US government weighs in on the browser wars, but a new Internet Explorer vulnerability that affects all major versions of the browser from the past decade has forced it to raise an alarm: Stop using IE.
This zero-day exploit is an unpatched flaw in the browser that allows attackers to run malicious code remotely. Security firm FireEye said that it is currently being used to attack financial and defense organizations in the US via Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. Those versions of the browser run on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, although the exploit is present in Internet Explorer 6 and above.
While the Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team regularly issues browser advisories, this is one of the few times that the CERT team has recommended that people avoid using a specific browser.
FireEye recommends that if you can’t switch browsers, that you disable Internet Explorer’s Flash plugin. You can also use IE with Microsoft’s Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit security app, but that will not be as secure as simply switching browsers.
Microsoft and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More Stories
theHamStop.com Introduces theCleatV
theHamStop.com has a new item in the shop just in time for 2024 Field Day!!. The announcement from theHamStop.com...
theCleat and theSkyHookx3x8 are available
[caption id="attachment_10422" align="aligncenter" width="225"] theCleat in use[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10423" align="aligncenter" width="225"] theHamStop.com announces, theSkyHookx3x8 are available.[/caption] theHamStop.com has been at...
E-beam atomic-scale 3-D ‘sculpting’ could enable new quantum nanodevices
koi phys.org/news/2020-09-e-beam-atomic-scale-d-sculpting-enable.amp
Facebook Paying Social Media Users to Suspend Accounts Ahead of November Elections
Facebook is offering money to those who are willing to stop using Facebook and Instagram in the weeks before the...
Pentagon Offers Military Airwaves for 5G Wireless Networks
The Pentagon plans to free up a big chunk of its military airwaves in the U.S. for high-speed internet service,...
Mozilla lays off 250
Mozilla today announced a major restructuring of its commercial arm, the Mozilla Corporation, that will see about 250 employees lose...