IE8 Offers Better Protection against Malware

[z3r010]

Today, socially engineered malware threats are on the rise and are heavily impacting the way people use the Internet - making it a consumer and industry issue.

A new study released today from NSS Labs shows that Internet Explorer 8 is the #1 browser in malware protection and also the #1 browser in phishing protection. The independent test results showed that Internet Explorer 8 blocks 3 times more malware threats than Firefox 3 and 10 times more malware threats than Google Chrome 2.

Given how Internet Explorer 8 performs against these socially engineered malware and phishing threats and the ongoing threat that cybercriminals pose against Internet users today, this is another good reason for consumers to upgrade to a modern browser and move on from earlier versions like Internet Explorer 6 where security issues were not then what they are today.

For more information on this new NSS Labs study and how Internet Explorer 8 continues to help keep people protected while browsing the web – see this blog post from the Internet Explorer Team on the IEBlog.

​

More...

 

[Zidane24]

More...

Not bad...for once there is some good reviews in the IE area...way to go IE Team!

 

[masterB]

The independent test results showed that Internet Explorer 8 blocks 3 times more malware threats than Firefox 3 and 10 times more malware threats than Google Chrome 2.

It may be safer than Firefox without add-ons. But Firefox with NoScript add-on still better than IE 8, 9...12...

 

[chuckr]

More...

Where do they get these "socially engineered" numbers from ?

Does IE8 and Firefox 'call somebody' to report:
"IE8 just blocked socially engineered xxxx" or
"Firefox 3.0a_1 just blocked socially engineered yyyy" ???

How does "socially engineered malware" differ from the "other kinds of malware" ?

I don't quite 'get it'...

 

[Night Hawk]

Where do they get these "socially engineered" numbers from ?

Does IE8 and Firefox 'call somebody' to report:
"IE8 just blocked socially engineered xxxx" or
"Firefox 3.0a_1 just blocked socially engineered yyyy" ???

How does "socially engineered malware" differ from the "other kinds of malware" ?

I don't quite 'get it'...

"Spcially engineered" is simply another term being applied for intentional malwares aimed at Windows machines. That's more of a generalized term being used there collectively not as a new form of malware. What the blog there is pointing out is that the new Smart Screen filtering is preventing many more sites from planting trojans and other bugs on your system if you happen to run into a bad site during a simple web search.

The "Suggested Sites" feature not mentioned there while annoying as anything works off of the MS data base on bad sites and steers you to a more limited number of recommended sites. As far as addons if you simply any toolbar to be installed when trying out a new program(first time, unknown) the user is the one that opens things up for... ? :shock:

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

I'm willing to bet this is IE8 for Vista and 7 with Protected Mode on, not the IE8 for XP.

 

[Zidane24]

I'm willing to bet this is IE8 for Vista and 7 with Protected Mode on, not the IE8 for XP.

probably...but at least the mode does what it intends to well...

 

[Night Hawk]

You'll notice one other thing being mentioned in the IE blog itself about the collective count of block seen between both IE 7 and IE 8 not just IE 8 by itself since IE 7 first saw the new antiphising filter. That made a large difference from the volume of security holes seen with the predacessor IE 6 that sadly lacked a great deal there.

You can see where MS is actually taking the initiative to make their own browser far more secure from the lack seen with the old IE 6 version included with XP. Even if XP lacks the protected mode IE 8 will steer you away from "garbage" sites when using the two main security features Smart Screen and Suggested Sites options.

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

probably...but at least the mode does what it intends to well...

Which is just one reason why UAC should be left on.

 

[slithernet]

I bet the malware just isn't compatable like a lot of sites

 

[Zidane24]

I bet the malware just isn't compatable like a lot of sites

lmao...for once thank goodness that things are incompatible...

 

[Night Hawk]

lmao...for once thank goodness that things are incompatible...

They may not be compatible but you will still find sites trying to put things on your system! On a few occasions it was the IE security toolbar option for AVG that caught trojans by coming up with alarm bells with a good sized prompt that stated "Threat Alert, Trojan"! That's when you simply hit the back button or close the IE window real fast!

You're still going run into things like that on occasion while the new filtering will certainly help steer you away once a site has been added into a data base of polluted sites! The effectiveness of the new bugs has been dwindled substantially however. Bug makers don't like that one bit!

 

[Mercurial]

I bet the malware just isn't compatable like a lot of sites

'LMFAO`