Calls to Stop Using IE after Google's China Attacks

After revelations that the large-scale cyber-attack on Google's infrastructure originating from China was caused by the weakness of the Internet Explorer (IE) web browser, Internet users have been asked to leave previous versions of the software.

"In our investigation we discovered that one of the malware samples involved in this broad attack exploits a new, not publicly known vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer," said McAfee CTO George Kurtz. Microsoft confirmed that their web browser was behind the attack an issued a security advisory today that warned users of the critical and unpatched vulnerability. All the IE versions contain the security flaw, including IE6, IE7 and IE8 on Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 are vulnerable to attack.

(Photo CC-BY Issa Mahasneh)

The German government has officially advised its citizens to stop using all versions of Internet Explorer until Microsoft releases a security fix. According to the German government, users should switch to alternative browsers, as hackers will start to exploit the same vulnerability within days.

Other several IT experts and writers are advising users to leave Internet Explorer. Dwight Silverman says "You, too, can be hacked like Google via IE. Microsoft is investigating the flaw and its implications, but while it does, there's no fix available. You are, for the moment, on your own. At this point, the best thing you can do is not use Internet Explorer, and switch to an alternative".

Daniel Indiviglio wrote "this story is another blow for Internet Explorer. The Google-China spat is big news right now, and this thrusts Microsoft in the center of it. As I mentioned a few months ago, IE is already beginning to give up small chunks of its market share each month to other browsers like Firefox and Chrome. Could this push firms affected by the Chinese attack to also begin exploring other browser alternatives? Will the rest of the Internet-using public take notice?".