Internet Explorer can compromise your system even if you do not use it

A yes, the wonders of Microsoft’s integrated browser (Internet Explorer). You know, other than being able to shut out other browsers from your Operating System and being able to strong-arm computer makers such as Dell into putting your browser on the desktop and no one else, the other really nice advantage to building your browser right into the OS is that you can compromise the security of the entire system even if people choose not to use Internet Explorer..

That’s right folks, even Microsoft will tell you that the latest Microsoft bug announced puts you at risk even if you don’t use Internet Explorer. Here’s the exact quote:

A number of security issues have been identified in Microsoft Internet Explorer that could allow an attacker to compromise a Microsoft Windows-based system and then take a variety of actions. For example, an attacker could run programs on your computer when you are viewing a Web page. This vulnerability affects all computers that have Internet Explorer installed. (You do not have to be using Internet Explorer as your Web browser to be affected by this issue.) You should help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

Wow, how fun. So Microsoft forces you to have their browser installed (it is difficult if not impossible to remove it completely) and their browser compromises the security of your system! Great! Thanks again Microsoft!

Add to the mix that they are planning to integrate Internet Explorer and Windows even further in future releases of Windows, and the future just looks very rosy for Windows users.

(Personally, I hope to be Windows Free by the end of 2003 and onto FreeBSD.)