Researchers warn of infectious Web sites

[Junkdrawer]

update Security researchers warned Web surfers on Thursday to be on guard after uncovering evidence that widespread Web server compromises have turned corporate home pages into points of digital infection.

The researchers believe that online organized crime groups are breaking into Web servers and surreptitiously inserting code that takes advantage of two flaws in Internet Explorer that Microsoft has not yet fixed. Those flaws allow the Web server to install a program that takes control of the user's computer.

Late Thursday, Microsoft advised customers to increase their browser security to the highest settings, although that could cause some Web site functions to stop working.

The extent of the attacks is unknown, but the security community has seen numerous cases of personal computers infected when the user merely visits a Web site.

"It is not epidemic, but it is being seen," said Alfred Huger, senior director of engineering for security company Symantec. "Do we think it is serious? Yeah. It's a concern and it's insidious."

more...

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5247187.html


Seems even "safe" major websites are spreading the infection...

[Speck Tater]

1. So either you should put a condom on your network connector plug or

practise Internet Abstinence to avoid DTDs (Digitally Transmitted Diseases)

[damnraddem]

2. Rather ineffective means of spreading a virus, unless ...

the webpages have truly massive numbers of hits. But it's surely bohersome.

The article didn't mention Netscape. I wonder whether one is safe if one uses Netscape.

[RebelOne]

3. Wonder if I'm safe with AOL.