Instant solution to Internet Explorer security alert and other Microsoft IE / Vista security alerts. An easy step by step how to secure your personal data, privacy and values.

First a small quote - original from microsoft.com:

Microsoft says it has detected attacks against IE 7.0 but said the "underlying vulnerability" was present in all versions of the browser.

Other browsers, such as Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari, are not vulnerable to the flaw Microsoft has identified.

Security fix - step by step

1. Security alert history information
2. Instant solution on how to fix all your IE problems within minutes - NOW
3. A brief step by step solution how to fix all future Microsoft security problems for your own safety - at lowest or no cost and with minimum efforts

Security alerts history - ongoing and past ones, such as:

• Serious security flaw found in IE
• Topics from Microsoft website on security flaw found in IE
• More from Microsoft web site on security flaw microsoft vista
• Some global results on security flaw microsoft vista
• Global results on security flaw microsoft IE

Such security issues are so frequent that most people become immune and start to overlook such security alarms. Yet with the growing cyber crime activities and an annual damage in the hundreds of Millions US $ as a result of credit card fraud and more than a Billion US$ annual damage by other hacker activities - from identity theft, bank account fraud, data loss and much more.

There have been issues about security of many Microsoft products IE of current and earlier versions as well as Windows Vista and XP and other software such as microsoft outlook express. The dangerous part of proprietary software is that no one among regular users ever knows what is inside your computer. Are there planned and built in back doors to spy on you as rumors say since many years ? Fact however is that Microsoft operating platforms have and had ten thousands of bugs - smaller and larger ones.

It is time to protect your property, your data, your privacy and your identity. Therefor it is time to chose a trustworthy platform with trustworthy tools and software, including browser. Open Source is the choice to make.

Why open source ?

Open Source is more than just a philosophy. Open source is an entire and complete system of computer software from office to operating system and browser all made open. Open to all world to see the code behind what is inside your computer. Honest people have nothing to hide. Those who hide their code may have something to hide. At lease there is NO evidence of their honesty and clean operating systems and software tools until the moment the proprietary software industry fully reveals all lines of code together with every update, every version, every piece of code they include in hardware.

How could you ever trust the unknown, the secret, the hidden? Can you trust the open source world? professionals from across the planet. No secrets, no secret possible backdoors or built in secret communication or data transfer. Of course there might be bugs and security issues now and then ...

BUT

All code always is open - hence the name "open source". Openess is an excellent way to start a relationship or mutual trust. Secrets and hidden unknown, undisclosed code is a method the destroy or prevent from very beginning a possible relationship of mutual trust. During the full development phase of software, after beta version releases as well as for all final releases. Every piece of software including the full operating system comes along with the complete current source code - freely available for your inspection or to be modified. There also are thousands or more IT professionals from all around the world having a curious and suspicious look into lines of code. Open source software is tested among thousands and more beta testers and developers, and bugs of final versions reported and solved often within hours or a day. I have never seen my open source announcing a security fix to be published soon. In open source world security fixes are published. No emergency patches such as the recent Microsoft.

Why do still many people use IE, Vista, XP, etc ?

Multiple reasons:

• Customers have given NO conscious choice or NOT been informed properly of alternative solutions / other software available
• People take the easiest method - choose whatever is included in a purchase without extra efforts or extra expenses
• People use computers without knowing or having learned or being informed of potential security risks to their privacy, data, bank accounts, credit cards, etc.
• People failed to invest some time to investigate all aspects of computer, networking and online activities - hence damage as a result of gross negligence from consumer side
• Users simple take security alerts and hacker information too superficial. When US government and other large scale computer systems are penetrated and data compromised, people usually may tend to belief that this only happens to large ones and never to regular users.

If you need decision making help to boost your own confidence, then may be take a while to read or study thru some of below online resources. There are growing countless numbers of governments, government agencies, corporatons and businesses that either already successfully use since years or currently undergo migration to Linux. If Linux is a choice for governments, then it also could be a value option for you. BTW - I am using Linux since 1998, most successfully and to my fullest satisfaction for my entire work. First for a brief period I had dual boot - i.e. both the factory pre-installed Windows operating system and my own installed SUSE Linux. My most recent purchases of high end laptops have been free from problems from the very beginning and a single Linux operating system - my preferred openSUSE Linux - is installed from very beginning. My own work security is part of my peace of mind strategy. Hence I prefer to enjoy peace of mind to better enjoy life and work more efficiently. And you - what is your choice and priority?

Take a while and see how others solved their Microsoft IE / XP and Vista problems - then make up your own mind and choice. Finally it's all about your own economy, your own data security, your own future, hence it is your duty to accept responsibility for your choices based on facts you have accumulated.

• linux in governments
• Linux in governments and government agencies, departments, etc. A large reference list of governments outside USA currently using or with ongoing migration to Linux.
• Swiss government uses Novell's SUSE Linux
• Governments getting cozy with Linux
• Deutsche Bahn critical business applications on Novell's SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server

Find help for your migration from Windows to Linux

If you google for linux forum, you'll find plenty of forums and howto pages for all common configuration situations. Some offer advice related to a single Linux distribution, others have threads covering (nearly all) common Linux distributions. My personal preference and recommendation is openSUSE for the simple reason that I am a happy SuSE/openSUSE user since 10+ years in a highly productive working environment as professional web publisher. In addition openSUSE is tested and approved in many heavy duty, high security commercial environments such as Swiss government and other demanding and security, stability and efficiency conscious environments.

• Helpful openSUSE forum
• Howto install dualboot openSUSE / WIN XP This most likely works for any other Dual boot Linux / Windows including Vista
• LinuxQuestions.org - help for Linux users
• A google search for how to install opensuse 11.0 will give you a step by step install howto for future versions you may want to check for updated howtos.

Instant measures to improve your Microsoft IE security

Since the security situation on Microsoft products and particularly Vista and IE are imminent, you may want to instantly improve your computer data security. Hence the first step you do is to download Firefox and replace your current version of IE with the newest version of Firefox. For Firefox newbies: Each time you start Firerfox, Firefox will check for available updates and if updates are found, will ask you to update or ignore and start browser without updates. Of course one of the security features is this instant alert of available updates. Thus you may really want to accept any update if available. Most of these updates are short and take but a few seconds.

Firefox and Thunderbird are available for a varies openrating systems from WIN XP, Vista, Mac OS X and Linux and in a large number of different languages.

By replacing IE and Outlook express with below Firefox and Thunderbird downloads, you'll get an instant security improvement within minutes. To migrate to Linux or to install dual boot - dual boot means having your current system PLUS an optional second Linux system to choose when booting your current computer. Dual boot was my method 10+ years ago. It may be a reasonable choice if you are unsure about your migration to Linux. Besides that Linux allows you to read files on your WIN partition.

1. Browse more securely: Download Firefox - it's free !
2. Secure and Protect Your Mail: Download Thunderbird - an eMail client from same project group
3. Give Linux a try and download a live-CD or better the full install DVD from opensuse.org - it's free and all you need is to read a.m. opensuse install howto or a good friend helping you while you offer him / her a good coffee or dinner.
4. Or order openSUSE DVD from Novell - the full set of 32 bit and 64 bit application comes with a printed manual - may be a good thing to have the very first time you use a new OS. That's how I started long time ago.

Why should you migrate to Linux ?

Just for the same reason some a.m. governments and major organizations changed from Microsoft to Linux: To increase security, to increase stability, to improve server and computer performance, to reduce expense and thus make your work and business more profitable and thus more competitive. The latter point may even be much more important in today's global economy crisis. Cost efficiency besides security and stability are keyfactors in every family and business. Why pay for troubles and security problems if you can get solutions for free.

It's about trust. Secrets and closed systems, proprietary code - never can be trustworthy. Why would someone, anyone hide all the functionalities of software paid by you and installed in YOUR computer? I belief you are entitled to know who is doing what exactly INSIDE YOUR computer with YOUR data, bank informations, credit card numbers, passwords and addresses of best friends, family members or your own customers.

Love and Bliss

hans