Report: Internet Explorer 9 Doesn't Suck

[The Lugz]

i think the real issue is that ie isn't a target for malware any-more because nobody uses it, with the release of this information the number of threats to ie will likely sky-rocket as less informed users flock to the 'safe' browser rendering the advanced security features moot, on weight of numbers

personally i haven't had any malicious software in over 6 years, and believe me i've scanned the crap out of my pc when it acts strangely
( usually nvidia's fault by the way, dumbass driver installer. )

i think the reason is because i reinstall windows so often, and switch os drives which obviously ends up generating an entirely new disk partition and boot record which is where the really nasty stuff tends to hide
with the added bonus that i don't have a registry clogged up with junk or butchered by programs

 

[Sentox6]

Seeing as how that study is out-dated already (Firefox 6? OHYEAH!), I don't think there is much to this...

...

...

wut? 6 is effectively in beta, 7 is an alpha, and 8... well, it's bleeding edge nightly code. Assuming this test is supposed to be remotely relevant to average PC users, using Firefox 6 makes sense.

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

lets see malware or performance.. I will go with a little mal-ware E9 is crap, way to slow to buffer videos, takes to long to load pages hell FF6 and Chrome are the only good choices

 

[hillbilly2]

This report is only HALF THE STORY
Here is the rest:
- Internet Explorer's false positive rate was between 30% and 75%.
- IE9 is the most vulnerable to drive-by hacks because of its high number of OPEN vulnerabilities in all versions of Internet Explorer. Here are just the open vulnerabilities in IE9 (currently 14 un-patched vulnerabilities)
http://www.securityfocus.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?c=12&vendor=Microsoft&version=%209&title=Internet%20Explorer
- IE9 is unable to block exploits of such software as Adobe Reader and Flash, Apple 's iTunes or Oracle 's Java
http://www.pcworld.com/article/228327/security_researcher_slams_microsoft_over_ie9_malware_blocking_stats.html

 

[infohippie]

I haven't used IE for years and I'm not going to start now no matter how many rigged studies claim it's better. Besides, I'd rather have a relatively uniform browsing experience, including plugins, across all my computers - that's the Windows gaming box as well as the multiple Linux boxen. I wouldn't want to use a different browser on my game machine and have to change working methods all the time.

 

[AgentBJ09]

Well, since my version of Firefox flat out refuses to work with a number of sites I like, I'll be getting this as soon as I buy Windows 7. Really looking forward to trying that OS out.

For now, I have IE8 and that works far better for me. Google's not getting my support for their browser, and I'll leave Opera to my future Wii console.

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

A newer browser with a newer system to block malware outperformed existing browsers with better-known malware-blocking systems?

I am shocked.

This is an inherently biased report. Beyond that, the ability to block malware is the absolute last thing I'm looking for in a browser. If anything, I usually try to find a way to turn those systems off. They often generate a lot of false positives and, more importantly, I really just don't need protection from malware. The solution to "socially-engineered" malware is education - learning not to go to sketchy websites you've never heard of and learning what a sketchy website looks like. This will prevent at least 99.2% of your problems.

 

[Fasckira]

I can quite believe that IE repels the most malware. You know why? If you do a fresh install of IE9, you'll then spend the next hour or so as your browse the net clicking through various prompts from Microsoft asking if you're sure you wish to display this, if you want to run that, if meant to click this, if you're sure you want to google that etc.

IE9 basically takes a dozen or so blankets and wraps them around you really tightly. If you dont turn those warnings off then yes, the chances of getting infected with malware are very slim. However if you're a human being who wants to view more than just the microsoft approved sites then you're probably going to end up turning all those prompts off pretty quickly!

 

[Gaias]

I have the best defense against socially engineered malware: anti-social.

 

[MajorDolphin]

Hrm. Interesting. I somehow doubt they did a comparative test against any browser with any other operating system. I somehow doubt IE9 is more secure than say, Firefox on a Linux machine or straight up Firefox with Noscript on any machine.

 

[Kyle 2175]

Maybe by default it's better, but it's very easy to install the Noscript addon and other addons for Firefox for security. And I'd imagine there's similiar things out there for Chrome.

 

[AWAR]

No. It is just too exaggerated to believe. I want to see more studies to be convinced.
Also Chrome safer than Firefox and Opera? Not buying it....

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

I'm far too use to Firefox to start using something else. I'm sure all those browsers run just fine. Besides, you rarely get malware and viruses if you use a little common sense while on the internet. Anyone else remember when NSS Labs did this with IE8? Yeah, they said it was the best browser to use as well, even when IE8 had openly, glaring holes in its protection. Here's a nice little breakdown of that last report:

http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200912/3268/Can-you-trust-the-NSS-Labs-report-touting-the-benefits-of-IE8

I call bullshit.

 

[Asehujiko]

Misleading statistics

Not a single mention of false positives, if the other browsers had their relevant addons installed or what kind of malicious links they tested against. This "research" shows absolutely nothing.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Ya right, these "surprising studies" are a really common thing that exclude one very important factor, who funded them.

Looking at the results I'd say NSS Labs got a nice fat check in the mail written by Microsoft.

 

[Abedeus]

Yeaah... Firefox 4... I'm using 6.

 

[Alon Shechter]

...I don't believe you.
*Proceeds to open 30 tabs in Chrome*

 

[penguindude42]

In other news, the sky is blue, Mass Effect and its kin blow cocks, and sharks are badass SOBs.

Honestly, this is anything but "news".

~TOM#!

 

[Floppertje]

sorry, but this just makes me wonder wether nss labs (whatever the hell they are) isn't biased... I'm not buying the 86% difference just like that...

 

[Bernzz]

Firefox 4? You mean they one they stopped malware protection updates for because they moved to 5, and now 6? Yep. I personally am not stupid enough to get viruses online, but I guess for someone not as used to the 'net, IE is a good choice.