“Global security consultancy ScanIT shows Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was ‘unsafe’ for 98% of 2004, while rival browser Mozilla was ‘unsafe’ for only 15%,” Presswire reports. “The figures come from 195,000 internet users who checked their systems for vulnerabilities using ScanIT’s free online Browser Security Checker in 2004.”
“The checker’s findings showed surfers using Mozilla’s Firefox browser enjoyed the shortest “exposure period” where a patch for known vulnerabilities in the browser was unavailable,” Presswire reports. “By comparison, the scanner showed Microsoft’s IE enjoyed only seven days without being subject to any known vulnerabilities, between 12 and 19 October. ‘This means fully patched IE was known to be unsafe for an incredible 98 per cent of 2004,’ ScanIT’s CEO David Michaux says.”
Full article here.
More info about the ScanIT Browser Security Tests themselves here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple’s Mac OS X is virus-free – March 18, 2005
68,736 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – March 12, 2005
Microsoft tries to turn its own security flaw into commercial gain – February 25, 2005
Cybersecurity advisor Clarke questions why anybody would buy from Microsoft – February 18, 2005
Microsoft’s Gates espouses homogenous operating system environments for better security – February 07, 2005
Windows’ mounting security problems make some consumers eager to purchase Macs – January 03, 2005
Windows Media songs and videos found to carry Windows malware payloads – December 30, 2004
Anzae/Inzae worm affects all Windows versions after 3.1; Macintosh unaffected – December 28, 2004
Unlike Windows users, Mac OS X users surf the Internet without a care in the world – December 28, 2004
Multiple unpatched Windows holes crop up; Windows systems compromised within minutes in experiment – December 24, 2004
Windows spyware mess is out of control, get a Mac and surf with impunity – December 21, 2004
New Microsoft Internet Explorer exploit spoofs Web sites on fully patched Windows XP systems – December 17, 2004
Microsoft may charge extra for Windows spyware protection software – December 16, 2004
Detroit Free Press: Windows malware problem getting worse, it’s time to get a Mac instead – December 16, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware headaches? Get a Mac and surf the Internet freely – December 13, 2004
Mossberg: Windows PCs plagued with problems, Apple’s Mac is ‘rock solid, elegant and affordable’ – December 09, 2004
Security expert: Don’t use Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer – December 09, 2004
Security test: Windows XP system easily compromised while Apple’s Mac OS X stands safe and secure – November 30, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware infecting your PC? Don’t fret, just get a Mac – November 01, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Spyware plagues Windows users while Mac users surf Net with impunity – November 01, 2004
Ballmer blames Windows users for not upgrading systems as Microsoft’s biggest security problem – October 22, 2004
Windows users line up to pay for spyware removal; Mac users surf Web with impunity – October 18, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Windows users’ security woes spark interest in Apple’s secure Mac OS X – October 06, 2004
Windows desktop monopoly threatened by secure, safe Apple Mac OS X – October 04, 2004
Even Bill Gates can’t avoid Windows malware; Mac users surf the Web freely – October 03, 2004
Cyber-security adviser uses Apple Macintosh to avoid Windows’ security woes – September 27, 2004
Information Security Investigator says switch from Windows to Mac OS X for security – September 24, 2004
Mossberg: Apple iMac G5 ‘powerful, affordable, virus-free with better, more modern OS than Windows XP’ – September 23, 2004
USA Today: people are switching from Windows to Mac because of security issues – September 21, 2004
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USA Today columinst angry about Windows viruses, adware, spyware – September 15, 2004
University of Chicago recommends all students patch Windows at least once a day – September 14, 2004
Windows XP worm speaks to users as it deletes their files; Macintosh unaffected – September 13, 2004
Security is top priority in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2004
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Mossberg: Dump your Windows machine and get an Apple Macintosh to free yourself of spyware – August 25, 2004
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SmartMoney: Long-suffering Windows users can only dare to dream of Mac’s ease-of-use – February 12, 2004
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Gates: Windows ‘by far the most secure’ system; tries to use ‘Mac OS X secure through obscurity’ myth – January 27, 2004
Columnist tries the ‘security through obscurity’ myth to defend Windows vs. Macs on virus front – October 1, 2003
New York Times: Mac OS X ‘much more secure than Windows XP’ – September 18, 2003
Wall Street Journal’s Mossberg on making the switch from Windows to Mac – September 18, 2003
Fortune columnist: ‘get a Mac’ to thwart viruses; right answer for the wrong reasons – September 02, 2003
Shattering the Mac OS X ‘security through obscurity’ myth – August 28, 2003
Is Mac OS X really inherently more secure than Windows? – August 26, 2003
Chicago Sun-Times columnist: Windows ‘many holes in its security’ but ‘none of my Macs have ever been affected – August 26, 2003
Sick of worms and viruses? ‘Move to Mac OS X’ suggests Chicago Tribune columnist – August 25, 2003
Virus and worm problems not just due to market share; Windows inherently insecure vs. Mac OS X – August 24, 2003
Ah you Mac Luuusers are just bitter that you aren’t getting IE 7..
Yeah, just as bitter as I am about not getting the new vulnerabilities that will come with it.
Mike, Don’t you need to go and reboot?
Just you keep waiting for IE…I’ll be using Safari and Firefox
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> When’s the last time YOUR browser was updated? LOL
mike,
You wish.
Go troll somewhere else you man-goo matress monkey.
Mike,
We are not happy that we aren’t getting IE 7, like we’re not happy we’re getting the clap.
There’s going to be IE 7? Who knew…but more importantly, who cares?
I’m surprised that with the stupidity of his post, Mike didn’t mention “first post”
You’re lagging MDN, there’s got to be more than 53 related articles.
max: you must have noticed by now that MDN is not a comprehensive Mac news source. It is a good selection that make readers comments fun and interesting.
Microsoft Intenet Explorer – Unsafe at any surfing speed!
Here’s an idea:
How about instead of pop unders, you stop posting these incredibly lengthy and annoying superlists of links to related articles just to try and prove points? You save some bandwidth and look slightly more credible.
win/win
I’m sick of pop-unders, too (despite the fact that I enabled PithHelmet a month or so ago and haven’t seen a pop-under here since). So here I am loudly announcing that I am leaving MDN FOREVER!!! Yes, forever, it’s too late, had your chance etc. etc. I think I’ll cross-post this in the next seven new threads as well. Now, I know you’re all crying loudly and wonder whatever you’re going to do without me. I’m like, Follower — I’m probably 4,667th on the list of total number of posts. No, MDN’s trying to balance keeping their free source of entertaining information through advertising by repeatedly offering instructions for an easy, free and effective solution won’t wash with me! Too late, losers. I’m going to go sit in my dark room now and think about how you’re all kicking yourselves that I’m gone. Sweet.
wOOt, IE 7. Does it finally come with tabbed browsing and a pop up blocker?
“By comparison, the scanner showed Microsoft’s IE enjoyed only seven days without being subject to any known vulnerabilities, between 12 and 19 October.”
Oh bitter irony… Wouldn’t you know it, that was the week my PC was disabled by viruses and spyware, and in the shop for cleaning…
well I only go online on the days when it is safe. Can someone please call me to let me know when I can use my pc. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
“unsafe for an incredible 98 per cent of 2004”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
What a hunk-o-crap
Magic word: aid, as in band-aid. IE7 is just another one of them.
Z