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Microsoft Patches Fix IE, Sony Flaws

Posted by Zonk on from the friendly-software dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft issued two security updates today, one of which fixes at least four flaws in its Internet Explorer browser, including one for which an exploit was released over Thanksgiving that is now being used by a handful of porn sites to install spyware, etc. According to Washingtonpost.com, the IE patch also removes a component left behind by a patch from Sony BMG designed to remove some of the more dangerous features of anti-piracy software installed by Sony BMG music CDs. Researchers found that the Sony patch changed settings in IE so that any Web site could install software on those machines."

7 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. two wrongs by caffeinemessiah · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow...Microsoft cleaning up after Sony? It's like oil companies issuing nicotine patches to clean up after tobacco companies. The big fight this winter is evil vs. evil. Wooo!

    --
    An old-timer with old-timey ideas.
    1. Re:two wrongs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      You know the world is going crazy when the best golfer is black, the best rapper is white, Google fixes MS's flaws, and MS fixes Sony's flaw.

  2. Re:This is bizarre by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or there could be pigs flying somewhere, I don't know.

    I think you mispelled "chairs".

    (sorry, couldn't resist :P )

  3. ahhhh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now I can go to porn sites again without having to worry...

  4. Re:Thank you Sony... by PsychicX · · Score: 5, Funny

    You'll be glad to know that, due to the PS3's extensive Wifi capabilities, Sony will be able to install copy protection on every computer in your house the moment the PS3 is powered up. Sony plans to include Linux and OSX exploits for those of you who try to be clever about it. The installed software will cause any computer to crash immediately, which Sony hails as a great technological breakthrough since their last technology, which could only destroy OSX but not Windows or Linux. And as for what happens if you try to copy a Blu-Ray disc...let's just say it's not so much "managed" copy as it is "melted" copy.

  5. Darn it! by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's yet another article that totally forgets about the upcoming Nintendo Revolution!

    Oh, wait... this is a different Microsoft vs. Sony hissy fit?

  6. OMGWTFBBQ???!!!!11!! by multipartmixed · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Researchers found that the Sony patch changed settings in IE so
    > that any Web site could install software on those machines."

    Wait. So, Sony is setting IE back to its default security settings?

    That hardly seems newsworthy.

    --

    Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?