SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Microsoft shares traded in the red Wednesday, but the software giant's stock appeared not to feel a significant negative impact from a government group's warning against using the Internet Explorer Web browser.
The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, known as CERT, issued a "vulnerability note" saying that computer users should not use the Internet Explorer browser because of security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to launch attacks on personal computers and corporate networks.
The security lapses can cause a Web site to make the browser think, in effect, that it is running a program that violates its security settings. The Web site can then be used to do anything from recording keystrokes, which make it easier to steal passwords and credit-card numbers, to installing pop-up-ad programs.
CERT is suggesting that computer users take steps such as applying security updates to Outlook e-mail programs and maintaining antivirus software, and using alternative Web browsers.
Despite the government's warning, few Microsoft shareholders felt the problems would pose an immediate threat to Microsoft's position in the browser industry. Microsoft shares gave up just 4 cents to trade at $28.45.
It's not something new - speculation about the safety of Internet Explorer has been around for some time. Sometimes, people issue these warnings, and make them sound worse than they really are. If there was such a big issue about IE, more besides some small insignificant warning would have been issued.
07-02-2004, 11:23 AM
Feds warn against Internet Explorer
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