Quote:
Originally Posted by dgs
I see Microsofts dominance more as a result of pre-bundling the os on every Intel computer. Have you ever tried to purchase one without Windows? IE, has been embedded into the OS, and we have been told that it was impossible to separate it. Now IE 8 is a standalone. I suspect that the exploits have more to do with the fact that business's tend to use MS Office, as few options are left, and it is more profitable to hack business systems because they run the financial programs. Who really wants to steal my pictures anyway?  |
Well, yes, it started back when Windows 98 first shipped. IE was integrated with the OS and it was almost impossible to remove. Of course your choices back then was IE or Netscape...lol. Netscape and the DOJ actually pursued Microsoft for Anti-Trust issues regarding IE. Both in Civil and Criminal court. The result was a compromise that IE will be a separate product. However, with XP and Vista it is somewhat bundled and it is still integrated, albeit if you follow a step of instructions you can remove it. But it is much easier to leave as a secondary browser since because of the domination, it is pretty much the defacto for most websites.
No, the exploits are there because not one browser is fool-proof. If you want something to come in and out legitimately, there will also be a way to exploit that flaw. I mean you can have relative safety, of course, but to claim that a particular browser is hacker proof is like claiming the Titanic to be unsinkable.
With that said, as a browser, any browser draws attention, and becomes popular, so will the amount of hackers claiming to exploit the new browser. It is a matter of recognition and respect in the hacker community. No one gives you street cred for busting a browser that only 2% of the internet community uses. But you get much props if you were able to bring down millions of users. Again, I refer back to my reference about the Mac. For ages, the Mac claimed to be Virus-Free and a safe environment. This is true, but not because Apple has done such a great job that hackers could not find an exploit. It was due to the fact that Apple only had 5% of the market share. So when Apple rose and grew up 20% of the market, it is now experiencing some growth problems and have a NAV version just for them. Does this mean Unix or the application that run under Unix known as OS X leopard\snow leopard, slacking in security compared to the OS 9 or older Os's? No, it is just, Mac's have attracted the attention of the Hacker community.
It is not always about money, with hackers. Hackers feed of fame and glory and boost of their own egos. To bring down systems of a large number, to break into a security system that is supposedly unbreakable, etc. These give the hacker street cred, so it doesn't necessarily mean the hacker is motivated by stealing financial documents, albeit, I know in some cases it is, but more of gaining the respect of the community and the fame or imfamy that rides along with it.
