A safety alert to those surfing the internet using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer: Dangerous new code attacking all versions of the browser has been made public, putting hundreds of millions of Internet users at risk.
The exploit was first discovered in late August when it was used in a handful of small, targeted attacks. Researchers have now catalogued the code in a widely used testing tool, meaning cybercrooks now have easy access to the malicious code. In their hands, a wider attack is a very real possibility considering that the only fix to date is a manual downloaded from the Microsoft website.
To be clear, no mass attack has happened yet involving the exploit. That means you still have time to protect your computer and stay one step ahead of hackers.
First, if you haven’t done so already, download and install Microsoft’s ‘Fix it’ patch for the vulnerability. You’ll also want to make sure your anti-virus software and operating system is up to date. For more on the best products to keep you safe online, check out our most recent Computer Software Buying Guide.
From jack skinner on October 24, 2013 :: 11:56 am
I want to know if there is some way to stop or block pay advertising in my in-box. contact att ,microsoft, mcafee, and just about anyone I could think of , all I received was run-around.
I think this in future, if not now to be a very dangerous practice.
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From Josh Kirschner on October 24, 2013 :: 3:24 pm
In the US, email advertising is regulated under the CAN-SPAM act. Which doesn’t prevent spam, per se, but does require companies to allow you to opt out of receiving future spam. The good news is that most reputable companies closely adhere to the law for opt-outs, and, generally, avoid sending spam in the first place. The bad news is that unreputable companies don’t.
Because spam makes up a significant percentage of email traffic, email providers spend considerable time and effort on blocking it. They’re also in the best position to identify spam because they are able to look for patterns among the billions and billions of emails they process. In my experience, Gmail does a very good job at that, Yahoo does not. So switching email services can make a big difference. Many email providers also allow you to set the “aggressiveness” of their spam filters.
p.s. If you no longer want to receive a newsletter or commercial email that you actually signed up for, you should use the “Unsubscribe” link. DO NOT hit the “Spam” button in your email program. Doing that will unsubscribe you, but it also sends the email service a message that “this email sender is a scum bag”. Over time, that affects the sender’s “reputation” and can make it difficult for them to deliver emails to other subscribers who want to receive the information.
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