At Penn State, students there are being advised not to use Internet Explorer at all, and to look for more secure alternatives. Penn State's official line is that IE is not secure enough for regular work, and that the dangers of IE exploits represent too great a risk.
"Penn State's Information Technology Services (ITS) is urging that the University computing community use standards-based Web browsers other than Internet Explorer to help minimize exposure to attacks that occur through browser vulnerabilities. ITS has made this recommendation because the threats are real and alternatives exist to mitigate Web browser vulnerabilities.
IT officials at Penn State, who have been pushing the message of computer security hard to their users of late, and highlighting issues such as keeping your anti-virus software up to date and using firewalls, have now turned their attention to IE as a great source of security woes.
"Penn State's decision to suggest alternatives to IE highlights the ongoing security issues surrounding Microsoft's browser. Due in no small part to its gigantic installed base, it has become the favorite target of hackers and malware writers. Its tight integration with Windows that non-IE browsers lack also make some attacks easier."