IE commercial. Major selling point: Security?

[Dustin2128]

I recently saw an IE commercial, which is I suppose good because microsoft's finally feeling that competitive pressure to advertise and improve. However, the major selling point was: security? What? IE is one of the most vulnerable browsers available, I would've cited another thing like 'most web developers develop for IE' or something like that. Not that I think IE deserves anything less than death and obscurity, but still. I'm also interested in where the figure '3 million threats blocked a day' comes from. Please do not degrade this thread with unreasonable or irrelevant MS bashing.
The commercial:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRbcJFe_rjA

[tmette]

I recently saw an IE commercial, which is I suppose good because microsoft's finally feeling that competitive pressure to advertise and improve. However, the major selling point was: security? What? IE is one of the most vulnerable browsers available, I would've cited another thing like 'most web developers develop for IE' or something like that. Not that I think IE deserves anything less than death and obscurity, but still. I'm also interested in where the figure '3 million threats blocked a day' comes from. Please do not degrade this thread with unreasonable or irrelevant MS bashing.
The commercial:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRbcJFe_rjA

I also saw this commercial on TV and laughed really hard afterwards. I agree they should probably stick to something about web developers building their sites around IE. Although the truth to that though is because if it works in IE, then it'll probably work in anything else. IE 8 is a lot better to develop for as opposed to 6 and 7.

[Dustin2128]

I also saw this commercial on TV and laughed really hard afterwards. I agree they should probably stick to something about web developers building their sites around IE. Although the truth to that though is because if it works in IE, then it'll probably work in anything else. IE 8 is a lot better to develop for as opposed to 6 and 7.

Yeah, and hopefully when IE9 comes out, I won't have a normal, any other browser known to man section and an IE section. I saw an acid3 test screenshot that scored 83 in the beta builds which is over 4 times the current score. Still fails, but it should be much easier to develop for.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Acid3inIE9PP3.png

[jwbrase]

All they have to do is make it more secure than *previous* IE versions, and they can trumpet it as "secure", since previous IE versions are what people are used to...

[Legendary_Bibo]

All they have to do is make it more secure than *previous* IE versions, and they can trumpet it as "secure", since previous IE versions are what people are used to...

Saying a turd is better smelling than another turd is pointless, but it seems to work for MS. I like the music commercial though, it has a good beat to it. I'm also wondering where the 3 million threats thing comes from because I can't seem to find actual statistical information on that, just blogs commemorating that what MS is saying in their commercials must be true.

[tgalati4]

It's similar to the McDonald's campaign:

Billions and Billions of Viruses Served . . .

[Diluted]

However, the major selling point was: security? What? IE is one of the most vulnerable browsers available, I would've cited another thing like 'most web developers develop for IE' or something like that.
It has a sandbox, so it has a better chance of mitigating vulnerabilities than other browsers (except Google Chrome).


Not that I think IE deserves anything less than death and obscurity, but still. I'm also interested in where the figure '3 million threats blocked a day' comes from.
I suppose from their SmartScreen Filter (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/03/05/ie8-smartscreen-filter-protecting-users-at-internet-scale.aspx).


Since we launched IE8 in March 2009, SmartScreen has blocked over 560 million attempts to download malware, recently averaging over 3 million blocks per day!

[McRat]

All they have to do is make it more secure than *previous* IE versions, and they can trumpet it as "secure", since previous IE versions are what people are used to...

Yup.

Even though IE comes pre-installed on over 90% of desktops sold today, they are losing market share. These are the people they need back; those who gave up on IE because of malware.

It has been a recurring theme with Windows O/S upgrades as well: "Now with SECURITY! You can finally trust us THIS time!"

They aren't competing with Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera. They are competing with their own bad reputation...

"Hey Baby! Like a date??
I got all cleaned up at the Free Clinic, and I'm using Protection now.
It ain't like the old days, I ain't going to get you sick this time!"

[Legendary_Bibo]

It has a sandbox, so it has a better chance of mitigating vulnerabilities than other browsers (except Google Chrome).


I suppose from their SmartScreen Filter (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/03/05/ie8-smartscreen-filter-protecting-users-at-internet-scale.aspx).

Lawlz, A graph without any legitimate information whatsoever is just a graph with random percentages.

[Diluted]

Well, there's a link to a report by NSS Labs.

[TheStroj]

I suppose from their SmartScreen Filter (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/03/05/ie8-smartscreen-filter-protecting-users-at-internet-scale.aspx).

Read comments on that blog post, bunch of IE fans... I gave up reading it after I saw people saying words like 'fast', 'secure',...

[Dustin2128]

well even if it does block 3 million pieces of malware from being downloaded a day, how many get through? More than the number being blocked I'd bet. And what's this about 'protection against Socially Engineered Malware threats'? No matter how good the software is, there is no protection against socially engineered threats except educating the end user. And what the heck is this graph even comparing? http://ieblog.members.winisp.net/images/ericlaw_smartscreen.png
Sorry, but [citation still needed].

[Legendary_Bibo]

Well, there's a link to a report by NSS Labs.

Their report had as much info as MS's site. Honestly it seems sketchy, they tout their own horn making these claims on security, and then make it difficult to analyze their methodology which may be sketchy at best, and skewed probably from MS's billions.

[lisati]

Forum rules don't allow me to say what I'd like to say, so I'll say this instead: People are gullible.

Most (all?) of the cards (ATM, eft-pos, credit, etc.) have had written into their conditions of use stuff about not letting other people use your card or giving out details like PINs. Yet people still do this and wonder why their accounts get compromised. Much the same can be said about computer security.

Aside: I wish to register a minor annoyance about people talking about something called a "PIN number". What on earth is a "Personal Identification Number number"???? :D

[Diluted]

Read comments on that blog post, bunch of IE fans... I gave up reading it after I saw people saying words like 'fast', 'secure',...
There are a few, but a quick look shows that the majority isn't.


well even if it does block 3 million pieces of malware from being downloaded a day, how many get through? More than the number being blocked I'd bet. And what's this about 'protection against Socially Engineered Malware threats'? No matter how good the software is, there is no protection against socially engineered threats except educating the end user.
Of course it's going to block less; it's a blacklist approach. Every browser is going to face the same problem of having sites popping up faster than they can add to their blacklist.

That said, it's still good to have filters to stop fake sites and prevent malware. Hopefully the big warning signs will make users more alert.


Their report had as much info as MS's site. Honestly it seems sketchy, they tout their own horn making these claims on security, and then make it difficult to analyze their methodology which may be sketchy at best, and skewed probably from MS's billions.
I think their methodology is on their full report. The onus is on other people to disprove it. There are some interesting comments regarding the validity of the report within the comments though.

[Dustin2128]

hm, come to think of it IE probably will always be affected by social engineering tactics more than the other browsers. That's because most of the people using it don't know or care enough to change browsers. Just a small revelation.

[jerenept]

hm, come to think of it IE probably will always be affected by social engineering tactics more than the other browsers. That's because most of the people using it don't know or care enough to change browsers. Just a small revelation.

Interesting.......

but probably true.

Just bolded something important there, Commander.

[kevin11951]

Interesting.......

but probably true.

Just bolded something important there, Commander.

:confused:

I find that to be true... In fact I know a guy near me who owns a computer store. He has been using IE since XP, and has never left it since. Even though he knows about Chrome, Firefox, etc... He still prefers IE. In his own words, its "familiar".

[jerenept]

thats why i bolded in MOST.

[RabbitWho]

Anyone know how many firefox blocks?

[themarker0]

I thought IE gave up on security, that what Gazelle was for?

[Dustin2128]

Anyone know how many firefox blocks?

I'd say it's difficult to count, but there'd be a lot of sample bias because people who use firefox generally know how to use the internet and avoid scams.

[Legendary_Bibo]

Anyone know how many firefox blocks?

Apparently 30%, if that's what that graph means or something. How does MS stay in business if they can't even make a proper frickin graph. Weren't people taught that in like 4th grade? You know, like labels and a legend...

[jerenept]

Apparently 30%, if that's what that graph means or something. How does MS stay in business if they can't even make a proper frickin graph. Weren't people taught that in like 4th grade? You know, like labels and a legend...

labels and a legend defeat the purpose of this graph.

[Dustin2128]

Apparently 30%, if that's what that graph means or something. How does MS stay in business if they can't even make a proper frickin graph. Weren't people taught that in like 4th grade? You know, like labels and a legend...

I don't think that was what the graph was about. Haha, isn't it pathetic that we have to deal with this kind of ambiguity?

[Legendary_Bibo]

labels and a legend defeat the purpose of this graph.
:lolflag:

[SunnyRabbiera]

well even if it does block 3 million pieces of malware from being downloaded a day, how many get through? More than the number being blocked I'd bet. And what's this about 'protection against Socially Engineered Malware threats'? No matter how good the software is, there is no protection against socially engineered threats except educating the end user. And what the heck is this graph even comparing? http://ieblog.members.winisp.net/images/ericlaw_smartscreen.png
Sorry, but [citation still needed].

I can translate the graph:

Blue: Porn ads that the browser cannot block
Red: System critical issues due to browser
Green: How many idiots fell for IE8

[RabbitWho]

well even if it does block 3 million pieces of malware from being downloaded a day, how many get through? More than the number being blocked I'd bet. And what's this about 'protection against Socially Engineered Malware threats'? No matter how good the software is, there is no protection against socially engineered threats except educating the end user. And what the heck is this graph even comparing?
Sorry, but [citation still needed].

There, I fixed it for you.

[Legendary_Bibo]

There, I fixed it for you.

:lolflag:

Now is this the actual software developers or web developers having to develop for the platform?

[Dustin2128]

:lolflag:

Now is this the actual software developers or web developers having to develop for the platform?
I second that :lolflag:. It's about web developers. Try writing a page for IE from scratch (no wysiwyg) that heavily involves html5 or CSS. IE lives a life without standards.

[Legendary_Bibo]

I second that :lolflag:. It's about web developers. Try writing a page for IE from scratch (no wysiwyg) that heavily involves html5 or CSS. IE lives a life without standards.

It's MS's grand scheme make an internet browser that doesn't follow any protocols and you deter new web developers who would nit pick IE on its security. IE just likes to be...unique. We'll go with that.

Although considering that IE came before the other players, shouldn't it have been the one to set the standards?

[Dustin2128]

It's MS's grand scheme make an internet browser that doesn't follow any protocols and you deter new web developers who would nit pick IE on its security. IE just likes to be...unique. We'll go with that.

Although considering that IE came before the other players, shouldn't it have been the one to set the standards?
IE did not come out before the other players. It came out in 1995. Netscape came out in '94, Mosaic in '93. It wasn't even standards compliant in its heyday. The only reason they won the first browser war is because of the sleazy tactic of bundling their browser with their OS.

[McRat]

It's MS's grand scheme make an internet browser that doesn't follow any protocols and you deter new web developers who would nit pick IE on its security. IE just likes to be...unique. We'll go with that.

Although considering that IE came before the other players, shouldn't it have been the one to set the standards?


No, IE came after.

At the time, browsers were too big to download off the internet. Netscape was #1, but it sold at stores. When MS put IE on the install disk for Win95? IIRC, it became the #1 browser by logistics alone.

Netscape is now Firefox if I follow the path correctly.

DOH!!! Beat me!

[Dustin2128]

No, IE came after.

At the time, browsers were too big to download off the internet. Netscape was #1, but it sold at stores. When MS put IE on the install disk for Win95? IIRC, it became the #1 browser by logistics alone.

Netscape is now Firefox if I follow the path correctly.

DOH!!! Beat me!
mwahhahahaha. </evil laughter>
EDIT: Alright, so
Netscape -> Mozilla browser component -> Phoenix -> Firebird -> Firefox

[jerenept]

the Netscape people open-sourced their "Gecko" rendering engine used in the Netscape Navigator, and Firefox was born as the "Mozilla Suite"

I use it sometimes on my G3. Pretty darn good.

[Macskeeball]

mwahhahahaha. </evil laughter>
EDIT: I'll do some research to find out where firefox actually came from. I'm almost 100% sure netscape was involved.

Netscape was opensourced as Mozilla (what is now known as Seamonkey), which had a web browser, email, address book, WYSIWYG HTML editor, kitchen sink, etc. all crammed into one executable. The installer also offered a browser-only install option, and out of that came Phoenix which was renamed to Firebird and then renamed again to Firefox.

Netscape -> Mozilla browser component -> Phoenix -> Firebird -> Firefox

[Legendary_Bibo]

Netscape was opensourced as Mozilla (what is now known as Seamonkey), which had a web browser, email, address book, WYSIWYG HTML editor, kitchen sink, etc. all crammed into one executable. The installer also offered a browser-only install option, and out of that came Phoenix which was renamed to Firebird and then renamed again to Firefox.

Netscape -> Mozilla browser component -> Phoenix -> Firebird -> Firefox

They like fire based animals. :)