News Microsoft Short on Specifics to IE Questions

Redmond is being tight-lipped over the current crop of IE issues, according to eWeek:

Internet Explorer users continued to hammer Microsoft with questions about the Web browser's security during an online discussion Thursday, but they also sought answers about IE's future support for Web standards and new features.

The Redmond, Wash., software maker hosted a public chat with IE's product and development team on its Windows XP Expert Zone Community site. Another chat is planned for Aug. 12.

Microsoft's browser has come under attack in recent weeks for security issues, leading to increased calls that users consider alternative browsers to protect themselves from exploits.

Security researchers also have noted that all browsers have had security vulnerabilities, though IE has had more reported issues.

Security remained a dominant concern during the online chat, and Microsoft continued to promise improvements in IE security in Service Pack 2 (SP2) of Windows XP, due out this summer.

Some of the 100-odd participants on the one-hour Web chat repeatedly asked the IE team to pinpoint when they could expect a cumulative patch for the browser and about whether they should continue to run IE. Microsoft last week released an early fix for the Download.Ject exploit but has promised a more comprehensive fix.

Responding to a question about the timing for a full IE patch, an IE team member offered no new details and referred users to Microsoft's information page on Download.Ject.

"I can't offer a specific date," wrote Dean Hachamovitch, who heads the IE team. "We have people working around the clock on it."

More here