IE Security Update - updated
Anyone else having problems installing? I'm running Win 7 and IE11. Tried to download and install the update today and it hangs on the restart. I have to disconnect power cord, remove and reinsert bat...
Forum Discussion
epmes wrote:
Third, of course IE has vulnerabilities. All large software packages have vulnerabilities. What's ironic about some guidance is that people seem to think that Chrome and Firefox are without problems, when in fact they have significantly MORE vulnerabilities than IE. Check Secunia Vulnerability Review or the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report or go straight to the US National Vulnerability Database and do your own searches if you don't believe me. The truth is that if someone wants to target your company, they'll target exploits against whatever browser, OS, and other software you're using. IE consistently comes up as more secure than other browsers in security tests--which is why nearly all governments, financial institutions, etc. use IE in the first place--but it's hard to stack up empirical evidence against some guy in a relative's computer club.
Browsers are among the most patched applications for vulnerabilities, as they have become a chief vehicle for malware exploits. And the data appears to indicate that both Chrome and Mozilla required more security patches for vulnerabilities than IE.
Source: GFI.com
But, according to the latest 2013 compiled annual data from the mentioned US National Vulnerability Database, IE had the most number of high reported vulnerabilities, as compared to either Chrome or Firefox. Along with the highest percent increase of vulnerabilities from the previous year. Chrome also saw a significant jump, while Firefox was on the decline.
In a way, I can understand that the openness of Firefox and Chrome architecture, especially to third party access of extensions, can lend itself to requiring more ongoing security patching. But the tighter integration of IE to the OS can also possibly lead to unique security issues, not present in other browsers.
Personally, I prefer Firefox as I can harden the security of personal info/settings files such as passwords through separate encryption quite easily. Can even do so with Chrome, though not as straight forward. However, cannot easily do so in IE without encrypting the entire application, not to mention possibly the OS itself.
As for which browser has required the fewest security patches for vulnerabilities? It's more likely Safari.
