RSSMicrosoft Expands IE7 Phishing Filter
By Nate Mook | Published February 6, 2007, 6:25 PM
Microsoft announced at the RSA security conference this week that it has expanded the number of data providers for the phishing filter built into Internet Explorer 7, which warns users when they are about to visit a potentially risky Web site.
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team (AusCERT), BrandProtect and MySpace.com are joining current partners Cyveillance, Digital Resolve, Internet Identity, Mark Monitor, and RSA. Netcraft has also agreed to provide Microsoft with data it obtains through its own anti-phishing toolbar for both IE and Firefox.
Microsoft says that since the launch of IE7, the browser has blocked over 10 million attempts by users to visit phishing Web sites. Currently, over 1 million blocks are being performed each week, and through feedback from IE7 users, over 10,000 phishing sites are added to blacklists every week.
"Carnegie-Mellon University’s Dr. Lorrie Cranor and her colleagues updated their independent, comparative study on anti-phishing toolbar accuracy last month, confirming that the Phishing Filter in IE7 is one of the most accurate anti-phishing technologies they tested," IE program manager Jeremy Dallman wrote on the IE blog.
"It was the only one that consistently caught more than 60% of phishing sites while having the lowest possible rates of incorrect ratings (otherwise known as false positives)."
Separately, Microsoft put live Tuesday support for Extended Validation SSL Certificates in IE7. These new SSL certificates require the issuee to be an incorporated and active business in good standing, and display as "green" in IE7's new Security Status Bar. A number of companies, including eBay and Charles Schwab have rolled out EV SSL certificates on their Web sites.
Since IE7 released, I used IE7 the most at work.
But at home I am still using Firefox, just because my windows is not legal. :)
Twice, IE7 reminded me about phishing sites, one because I misspelled it, another was from email.
After I legalize my windows, definitely I go for IE7.
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|I use the IE7 phishing filter, infact I have use IE7 almost entirely since its release, because of a big in the current build of Firefox.
Its the first time in over 3 years I have not used firefox, and instead have used IE7, as long as I stay secure this will remain true.
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|Even as a person who never liked the FireFox interface or feel, I do know that you are definately a small minority, sir. Most Firefox fans swear they will never use IE again--
--but honesty, why is it so important? Hey, if Mozilla really knocks my socks off with FF 3.0 and IE starts having the slowdown that they incurred since IE 5.01, then I might use firefox. I cannot rule that out, cause who knows what will happen with this in 5 years...will IE8 / IE whatever have only 54% share, and FireFox 39%? Will the internet even need a browser, or a PC to surf it any more?
I'll likely use Microsoft for a while, but I can never rule out using something else if Microsoft fails...
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|Do other BetaNews readers use the IE7 phishing filter? I had to turn it off because it slowed down loading the web pages so much. Is that a common experience?
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|Though a lag sometimes on loading sites that are new to my surfing habits, it is well worth the security.
I am sure you noticed how fast your PC runs without an antivirus program on it or before SP1 and 2, however, the updates and security programs are necessary components.
You have to ask yourself, "is security worth a few seconds of my time?" I am not trying to belittle you or mock your comment, but to point out an obvious scenario.
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|Well, I'll try it again for a while.
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|I did not mind the slow downs. It was the "page can not be displayed" problems that had me turn off the filter. A lot of valid pages would only display after a couple of refreshes. I'll wait and see how this update seems to "fix" this (if it ever does???)
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|10 Million attempts since IE7? I'd love to know how many were successful. That's a lot of easy stupid money.
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