Using Google Desktop? Beware.

[Perry]

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,123826,00.asp

A bug in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser gives phishers a way to scan the hard drives of Google Desktop users, according to an Israeli hacker. Because of a flaw in the way IE processes Web pages, a malicious Web site could use the attack to steal sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords from the hard drives of its visitors.

"Google Desktop users who use IE are currently completely exposed," wrote hacker Matan Gillon in an e-mail interview. "An experienced attacker can covertly harvest their hard drives for sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Since Google also indexes e-mails which can be read in the Web interface itself, it's also possible to access them using this attack."

[alpha_wolf_1966]

Two immediate fixes for this problem. The first is to stop using Google Desktop. I think they've done a great job with it, especially since a plugin has come out for indexing all of OpenOffice file formats.
The other solution is to STOP USING IE!!! Or at least, only use it for the one or two things it is "necessary" for (accessing Microsoft's homepage and downloads). Firefox is an excellent alternative to Internet Explorer. It can be found at www.mozilla.com.

[Lady_Hawke]

Whats a google desktop?

Is that when you use the www.google.com to look things up? And then you are on google?

[wannabethintoo]

Originally Posted by Lady_Hawke

Whats a google desktop?

Is that when you use the www.google.com to look things up? And then you are on google?

It's like google.com but for you hard drive. You can "google" anything on your hard drive. It's pretty handy.

[Lady_Hawke]

so then its a program you purchase and download on your pc - its not using the search engine on google?

[Perry]

It's using similar logic to the search engine on Google but is a separate program you download. I've gotten several nasty spyware loaded after I downloaded Google Desktop.

Here's another vote for Firefox!

[Lady_Hawke]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

[Jasmain]

Personally, I don't like google at all. I have never gotten a virus, since I got my computer in 1998, from IE. I have, however, been attacked no less than 4 times, and most likely more that I didn't know about til a scan showed something, by using google.com to find things. I highly doubt I'd use anything they provide.

[La_La]

+1 for firefox

[dotsamantha]

I don't use the desktop, but i love google in general. And yay firefox.