Another critical IE flaw

[barryhynd]

Instead of even reading yet another flaw with internet explorer try

FIREFOX

Microsoft warns of critical Internet Explorer flaw - Web User News

[stugster]

Here's why, in this case, Firefox is better:

Firefox still has the abilities that Internet Explorer has, but because it's open source, the community scrutinises the developers code to the N'th degree and this in turn results in them fixing bugs much quicker than in a closed-source scenario.

Who is there to scrutinise Microsoft's programming? Naeb'dy!

If anyone fancies trying Ubuntu (a completely free operating system), we're going to be giving away FREEEEE live CD's on our site soon. The CD lets you boot up and play around with the operating system exactly as if it were installed on your machine (although it's not), the only downside is that because it's loading from a CD, it's much slower than it would be if it loaded from your hard drive.

If anyone wants to give Ubuntu a wee whizz around the block - let me know and I'll post you the CD.

[Mike Lewis]

To be fair to Internet Explorer (why not? some-one has to be), this isn't a flaw in IE, but in a particular ActiveX control. The article doesn't make it clear if the same security breach could arise if you use the control in a different browser.

That said, I totally endorse Barry and Stuart's points about FireFox. I'd also urge anyone who fancies playing with Linux to take up Stuart's offer of a Ubuntu CD. (You can also download Ubuntu for free from various sites, but it's much more convenient to have a physical CD.)

I had a ancient laptop that I was planning to discard. Just for fun, I tried installing Ubuntu on it, and it gave it a new lease of life. Much faster, much less hassle than Windows XP or Vista.

Unfortunately, I have to stick with Windows for my main machine. As an independent software developer, I have to develop on a system that matches, as closely as possible, the machines that my applications will be deployed on, and, for now, that means Windows.

Mike

[stuarty]

Unfortunately there are still 41% of the wolrds internet users still using IE. 15% are still using IE6 because they either have to or don't know any better.

Unfortunately in my line I have to use it on a daily basis to ensure things in websites work ok - daft stuff like transparent png fixes in ie6. It's here for a while yet I'm afraid

[Gordon N]

Originally Posted by stuarty

15% are still using IE6 because they either have to or don't know any better.

To true unfortunately!

I have a feeling that this stat way drop a bit quicker now as more and more designers and developers drop 'general' support for it. I am of the opinion that unless a site's demographic would include a majority of IE6 users (corporate intranet portals etc) I will not waste time fixing everything as long as it looks ok. My default pages in my editor include UnitPNGfix in an IE6 conditional statement and that takes care of the biggest issue for me anyway. Mr Meyers reset does a good job of the rest already.