*Ø* Microsoft's browser dominance at risk

Experts warn of security holes
From The Independent:

"Its curved blue 'e' sits on almost every computer desktop in the world, but the global dominance of Microsoft's web browser could soon be over following a stark security warning from a senior panel of internet experts who say it opens the door to online criminals.

"They are urging all users of Internet Explorer (IE) to stop using the browser because they say it is vulnerable to hackers and credit card fraudsters.

"The alert, from the US Computer Emergency Response Team, comes as a blow to the global giant Microsoft, which has fought successfully to retain its dominance of the browser market -- 95 per cent of internet surfers currently use IE ...

"Vulnerabilities in Explorer:

• Pop-up ads can silently download software that will use your computer to send out spam or install 'Trojans' that watch your typing.

• E-mails by 'phishers' can grab bank details by using malicious internet addresses preceded by a real one. If you open it with IE, you will only be shown the first part of the address, with the rest hidden. Users may trust the address and give the criminals their details.

• Another 'phishing' attack uses the 'fake address' method above and puts a pop-up window with an image of a padlock on top of the window. This looks like a 'secure' website. IE has no built-in means to block pop-up windows.

• Some pornography websites use IE to silently download software that changes the computer's internet settings to dial a premium-rate number.

• One pop-up ad installs software that monitors whether you visit any of 50 banking sites, including Barclays and Citibank. When you do, it monitors your keystrokes and sends them to a website in San Diego."

Full text (Worth reading -- the advice is to switch to another web browser, such as the free Mozilla or commercial Opera products.)