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1 John Carroll  Wed, Nov 7, 2012 8:02:02am

Well, I wouldn't call fake phishing attack exactly "in" Windows 8. A phishing attack is a bit like saying a bank is insecure because a criminal could put scantily-clad women outside a bank and lure the security guards out. Phishing attacks trick people into supplying sensitive information, or worse, downloading software. It preys on human weakness and ignorance, and isn't per se a flaw in software.

That's why security alerts cause the entire background to go dark when they popup (they've been doing that since Vista)...because it makes it more obvious. Of course, that doesn't stop people from making popups on web pages that look like the built-in security popup...minus the blacked-out background.

2 researchok  Wed, Nov 7, 2012 8:06:52am

re: #1 John Carroll

It's a start.

3 John Carroll  Wed, Nov 7, 2012 8:57:54am

re: #2 researchok

It means people are writing phishing sites that mimic the look of Windows 8. If Mac OS X changes, expect the same thing to happen on day one with that OS. Mimicking a look is easy.

Windows 8 will have security flaws, as software is software. But it is more secure than Windows 7. All that means is you are less likely to run into sites that automatically invade your system, or be attacked by a worm that attacks your system without you doing anything.

It's very hard, though, to stop users from doing the equivalent to opening a locked front door to a burglar. That's what a phishing expedition essentially does. It's like being convinced to hand your wallet to someone on the street. It's a UI issue that OS providers try to resolve, but as noted, you can't stop someone from mimicking your look and feel.


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