Microsoft Corp. will soon make available to the general public a tool for warning users about "phishing" scams that could lead to identity theft. Currently, such a tool comes only with the Internet Explorer 7 browser, which is available in tests only to a select group of developers.
But within a few weeks, Microsoft will incorporate it into a toolbar for older versions of IE. While still officially a test, the anti-phishing tool will be available to anyone running the Windows XP operating system with the Service Pack 2 security upgrade from last summer. The company will eventually make it available to older Windows systems, too.
The tool was built to address scammers who try to trick people into revealing passwords by posing as legitimate banking or e-commerce site. When an unfamiliar site is encountered, users have the option of passing that address to Microsoft to check against a database of known phishing sites. A "red" warning page appears when there's a match. Even when there isn't a match, the tool will display a pop-up "yellow" warning when it sees telltale signs of phishing, such as the lack of SSL encryption when submitting passwords.
News source: ZDNet
But within a few weeks, Microsoft will incorporate it into a toolbar for older versions of IE. While still officially a test, the anti-phishing tool will be available to anyone running the Windows XP operating system with the Service Pack 2 security upgrade from last summer. The company will eventually make it available to older Windows systems, too.
The tool was built to address scammers who try to trick people into revealing passwords by posing as legitimate banking or e-commerce site. When an unfamiliar site is encountered, users have the option of passing that address to Microsoft to check against a database of known phishing sites. A "red" warning page appears when there's a match. Even when there isn't a match, the tool will display a pop-up "yellow" warning when it sees telltale signs of phishing, such as the lack of SSL encryption when submitting passwords.
News source: ZDNet
What's new?
- General
- new: IE7 Beta 1 direct integration support (xp sp2)
- new: DEP Unattended option
- new: Sereby's German Hotfix Pack v1.3+ support
- new: Greek and Russian (non-Cyrillic) language translation
- fix: Textmode Driver (nvraid post install reboots)
- fix: Direct integration for KB896344,KB890046,KB898461,KB893357
- fix: German pack integration (SetupHotfixesToRun included)
- fix: Compress error popup with small files
- fix: SFC Enabled full support
- fix: Main files uppercased
- Components
- new: ActiveX for streaming video
- new: Intel Indeo codecs
- new: Teletext codec
- new: IP Conferencing
- upd: TAPI App Support (removes more)
- upd: CTF Loader -> Text Services Framework (removes more)
- upd: WMP (now keeps MP3 codec)
- fix: DRWatson (back and fixed)
- fix: Printer drivers in Win2k (seemed like not removed)
Down with fishing!
lol
Just kidding, I don't think this is too inventive since Netcraft (http://toolbar.netcraft.com/) has had this for atleast a few months if not a year... But I do applaud Microsoft for doing a good thing.
Now for people to actually upgrade, that will be the hardest part. But then again, those who don't deserve to have their identities stolen.
It may not be exactly the same (perhaps better?), but the Netcraft Toolbar is available now. Plus, it is compatibility with Firefox and IE.
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