For the web developer every day is a fight attempting to make code that works on as many browsers as possible. Trying to reinvent the internet is something Microsoft is great at, since more often than not anymore pages will break differently in IE6, IE7, and IE8.

This article contains opinions specific to the writer and are no way associated with the beliefs of anyone or anything else.

First off you people (as in Internet users) should be updating your web browser all the time anyway. There is no excuse for using the first build of IE7 when we are already on like the third build of IE8. Not only is it a pain for web developers but it is a danger to you, your health, my health (bob, what?), and potentially your pocketbook. I am serial.

For your review, I submit a hyperlink to ZDNet. Yet another critical exploit for Internet Explorer 6 and 7. "Why don't they fix it?" you ask? They did fix it, it is called Internet Explorer 8.

"For IE users unable (or unwilling) to upgrade to IE 8, you can disable Active Scripting in the Internet and Local intranet security zones."

So basically you have to turn off the browser's ability to process client side code, which will make a lot of sites break and a lot more sites really clunky to use. I personally have no patience for "the unwilling." Here is why, and you will also see why you are putting my health at risk.

So you are using an old version of IE7 which this hack works. You, unknowingly stumble across a hacked page.

"which could allow attackers to crash an affected browser or execute arbitrary code"

Arbitrary code. In laymen's terms this literally means "install any program they want" (however not that simple, if you are going to try and fight me). Through this a bit of remote code will be dropped in your RAM, which then might do something like download a virus.

But how does this affect Bob? Ok so this virus you just downloaded without knowing is now going through your email address book, which has my name, my email, my address, and maybe my phone number in it, because of course we are good friends. This virus just sent back all that information back to hackers and scammers. That is what "theft of personal information" means. So not only your personal info is compromised, but now mine is too. Thanks a whole hell of a lot for not updating your software, I enjoy reading unsolicited spam emails.

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