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Weblog:   Should You Give Up Internet Explorer?
Subject:   What is in the best interests of users?
Date:   2004-07-07 01:06:49
From:   simon_hibbs
I'm no Microsoft hater, I use Microsoft products every day and some of my core xcareer skills depend on Microsoft products and technologies. However their effective abandonment of development of the IE platform for so many years speaks of an appaling complacency which has made this CERT recommendation almost inevitable.


You answer your question 'should you give up Internet Explorer?' in the negative because 'If Mozilla or Firefox were to suddenly become the most popular browser, either would be Target Number One as well'. This is essentialy irrelevent. The alternative browsers are not Target Number One, they are not subject to continual and effective attack by hackers. Protesting that maybe, one day if the stars allign an a certain way they mght be, is no way to justify inaction now to resolve vulnerabilities today.


Fortunately Microsoft are restarting development on IE, although comments by their developers so far have shown a half-hearted approach to the project, and in particular the issue of standards compliance. It's about time they got their act together.


Come on Microsoft - We know you can do better, and if you don't there are plenty of alternatives that users should not be afraid to explore!


Simon Hibbs
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