My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: Microsoft issues Bug Fix Windows OS including Windows XP - Corporate irresponsibility averted as CERT and DHS Slap on the wrist made a difference

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Microsoft issues Bug Fix Windows OS including Windows XP - Corporate irresponsibility averted as CERT and DHS Slap on the wrist made a difference

“We take a huge amount of pride that, among widely used browsers, IE is the safest in the world due to its secure development and ability to protect customers, even in the face of cybercriminals who want to break it. This means that when we saw the first reports about this vulnerability we said fix it, fix it fast, and fix it for all our customers.  So we did.”

General Manager of trustworthy Computing for Microsoft Adrienne Hall commenting on Microsoft's Decision to patch the Zero-day exploit vulnerability for all versions of Windows

Today, Thursday May 1st 2014, Microsoft became a responsible company once more!

Microsoft has finally fixed the Zero-Day in the Internet Explorer Browser at 10am on Thursday May 1st 2014, even issuing a patch for Windows XP users as reported in Microsoft backs down, will fix Internet Explorer vulnerability—even on Windows XP, published May 1, 2014 10:32 AM by Mark Hachman, PCWorld and “Microsoft fixes big IE bug -- even on Windows XP”, published May 1, 2014 10:46 AM PDT by Seth Rosenblat, CNET News.

That’s right, dear reader!

Even for Windows XP users, who are still clinging for dear life to Windows XP as stated in “Windows XP stays strong despite end of support”, published May 1, 2014 5:02 AM PDT by Lance Whitney, CNET News will get a patch for Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8, the ONLY versions that Windows XP Can run.

Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 Love – Corporate irresponsibility in the face of Customer Danger

Why they persist in using Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8, which can barely render Google Gmail and some Social Media Websites instead of upgrading to Google Chrome via the Google Chrome Standalone Installer, Mozilla Firefox or even Apple Safari as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to reset the default Search Engine in Mozilla Firefox” is beyond me!

The Stats presented by Netmarketshare indicate support for Internet Explorer is over 57% with Windows XP users still holding strong at over 27% as noted in my blog article entitled “NetMarketShare Second Quarter Stats show Windows XP Growing Strong while Google Chrome in No. 2 Spot - Windows 7 Upgrade Windfall for Computer Repair Technicians”.

Microsoft had initially declared on Monday April 28th 2014 that Windows XP users were undeserving of support as stated in “Microsoft: No IE Patch For Windows XP”, published 4/28/2014 01:30 PM by Michael Endler, InformationWeek. That must have elicited howls of protest from many quarters, due to the ubiquitous usage of Internet Explorer Browser.

Despite the fact that it’s an Internet Explorer Browser issue, not a Windows OS issue and thus affects ANYONE using Internet Explorer, even Apple Mac users, who are just as vulnerable to viruses as PC’s as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to protect your Mac for Viruses, as apparently Macs can get viruses too”.

That non-chalance off-the-cuff response by this big Corporate giant forced CERT (Computer Emergency Readiness Team) in England and the US to advise users to avoid using Microsoft's Internet Explorer and use another Browser as stated in “Stop using Microsoft's IE browser until bug is fixed, US and UK warn”, published April 28, 2014 11:18 AM PDT by Seth Rosenblatt, CNET News.

US Department of Homeland Security son followed suit, issuing a Ban against Microsoft Internet Explorer usage and telling users to use another Browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as stated in “DHS warns against using Internet Explorer until bug is patched”, published Apr 28, 2014 1:20 PM by Mark Hachman, PCWorld.

Microsoft being irresponsible Corporate Entity – CERT and DHS Slap on the wrist got them back in the Game

The zero-Day exploit, discovered by Security Firm FireEye on Sunday April 27th 2014, allows for hackers to gain Remote control access to your computer via you’re the Internet Explorer Browser. Thus the bug allows them to remotely control your computer and install keyloggers to steal your passwords as described in my blog article entitled “Professor Marco Gercke warns of Scammers using Keyloggers for Spear Phishing - How to use Keyloggers and how to Protect yourself from Scammer's American Hustle for Fast Cash”.

 This is similar in Function of Google Chrome Browsers allowing Remote access via installing the Chrome Google Chrome Remote Desktop in Google Chrome and then installing the Remote Desktop for Android Extension on your Google Android smartphone within Google Chrome for Android.

However, this is done WITHOUT your consent or control as stated in “Android Chrome now lets you hop on your PC from afar”, published April 17, 2014 11:12 AM PDT by Seth Rosenblatt, CNET News.

General Manager of trustworthy Computing for Microsoft Adrienne Hall issued a statement that’s effectively the closes thing to an apology as they took ownership of the problem, quote: “Even though Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and is past the time we normally provide security updates, we’ve decided to provide an update for all versions of Windows XP (including embedded), today. We made this exception based on the proximity to the end of support for Windows XP.  The reality is there have been a very small number of attacks based on this particular vulnerability and concerns were, frankly, overblown. Unfortunately this is a sign of the times and this is not to say we don’t take these reports seriously. We absolutely do” .

Whatever.

My advice; don’t get the Bug fix, as you can just use another Browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, as you don’t need to upgrade to a new Version of Windows just to keep using Internet Explorer as I’d recommended in my blog article entitled “NetMarketShare Second Quarter Stats show Windows XP Growing Strong while Google Chrome in No. 2 Spot - Windows 7 Upgrade Windfall for Computer Repair Technicians”.

Better yet, migrate to Linux and you’ll have less problems with Viruses and the Internet overall.

Here’s a list of alternative Browsers:

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