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German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5521		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Coref [ Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
I've just seen on BBC News 24 that the German government is telling people not to use IE until after the bug exploit doing the round is patched. :shock:
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
'For you, the browser war is over!' ;)
Author:  Linux_User [ Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
pcernie wrote:
'For you, the browser war is over!' ;)

In Soviet Russia, browser uses you!
Author:  big_D [ Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
They've issued similar warnings a couple of times in recent years.
Author:  JJW009 [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
Is it actually legal for a government to make such statements? They are directly or indirectly promoting alternative browsers, which would be like our government saying "Mercedes are insecure; get a nice Rover!".
Author:  rustybucket [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
JJW009 wrote:
Is it actually legal for a government to make such statements? They are directly or indirectly promoting alternative browsers, which would be like our government saying "Mercedes are insecure; get a nice Rover!".

I'd think it's more like saying "The chassis in the 2009 Ford Focus has a tendency to snap in half. You may want to get another car."
Author:  big_D [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
How is this any different to saying "there is an unexploded bomb in the middle of Hannover, we are clearing the area until it is made safe." :?

Every week there is some part of a major town or road closed due to unexploded British or American bombs. This is a danger to the public and the government has a duty to protect them until the danger has passed.

Although, in this case, they are only advising users not to use Internet Explorer (until the flaw is fixed), as opposed to prohibiting its use, which is less than what they usually do when there is a similar physical danger.

They also do the same thing with other products, either working with the manufacturer to organise a recall or issuing a warning to the public that a product is unsafe and should not be used - it should either be disposed of or returned for repair or money back... Cars, electrical goods and children's toys are often subject to government warnings - the cars usually in association with the manufacturer, but the latter 2 are often subject to safety notices, when the manufacturer won't get involved (often cheap no-name imports from Asia or former-Eastern Block countries).
Author:  vitaminz [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
If you peel off the layers you'll find someone from Google probably paid off a German MP to get this going public. A bit like the money that changed hands to make MP's lie about 'Swine Flu' and other profitable things.
Author:  nvj1662 [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
From the BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8463516.stm

Quote:
Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that while they were aware of the warning, they did not agree with it, saying that the attacks on Google were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda".

"These were not attacks against general users or consumers," said Mr Baumgaertner.

"There is no threat to the general user, consequently we do not support this warning," he added.

Microsoft says the security hole can be shut by setting the browser's security zone to "high", although this limits functionality and blocks many websites.


Ah well, that's alright then. :roll:
Author:  paulzolo [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
nvj1662 wrote:
From the BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8463516.stm

Quote:
Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that while they were aware of the warning, they did not agree with it, saying that the attacks on Google were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda".

"These were not attacks against general users or consumers," said Mr Baumgaertner.

"There is no threat to the general user, consequently we do not support this warning," he added.

Microsoft says the security hole can be shut by setting the browser's security zone to "high", although this limits functionality and blocks many websites.


Ah well, that's alright then. :roll:


Saves a lot of people heading on over to the evil that is Firefox.

How are the corporates, which are glued to IE6 with no hope of ever escaping, going to deal with this?
Author:  paulzolo [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
And now France joins in:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8465038.stm
Author:  LaptopAcidXperience [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
paulzolo wrote:

How are the corporates, which are glued to IE6 with no hope of ever escaping, going to deal with this?


Unofficially use Firefox portable.
Author:  EddArmitage [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
LaptopAcidXperience wrote:
paulzolo wrote:

How are the corporates, which are glued to IE6 with no hope of ever escaping, going to deal with this?


Unofficially use Firefox portable.

95% of users wouldn't be able to here.
Author:  l3v1ck [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
France follow the German lead.
News CLICKY
Author:  LaptopAcidXperience [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: German Government tells users not to use Internet Explorer
EddArmitage wrote:
LaptopAcidXperience wrote:
paulzolo wrote:

How are the corporates, which are glued to IE6 with no hope of ever escaping, going to deal with this?


Unofficially use Firefox portable.

95% of users wouldn't be able to here.


I take it the majority of your users can't download files from the internet, even via something like dropbox, or even email it to themselves or did you mean they simply wouldn't be aware of such a "solution".
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