German Government recommends not using Internet Explorer

The German government recommends that Internet users seeking an alternative to Internet Explorer browser (IE), Microsoft, to ensure their safety.

The warning by the Federal Office for Information Security Germanic comes after Microsoft acknowledged that the security of your browser failed in the recent attacks on Google's systems.

The company rejected the advice of the Office, saying the risk to its users was low and that improving the security settings in Explorer would solve the problems.

However, German authorities said even that would make IE completely safe for navigation.

Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that attacks on Google were carried out by "highly motivated, with some very specific purposes.

"There were no attacks against ordinary users or customers" of the firm, said. "There are no threats to them, so we do not support this recommendation," he said.

For his part, Graham Cluley, a spokesman for antivirus firm Sophos, told the BBC that the German government's notice referred to versions 6, 7 and 8 of the browser. He added, have appeared on the Internet explaining how to exploit vulnerabilities in IE.

Awaiting update

Microsoft tends to release a security update each month. The next is scheduled for Feb. 9. However, a company spokesman told the BBC that the experts are trying to fix problems quickly.

"We are working on an update, which could lead to (launch) a security update out of that cycle" monthly, he said.

However, this is not an easy task. The company not only have to fix those problems, you must also make sure not to create more vulnerabilities, and that arrangement works on all computers. This challenge is compounded considering that should fix three different versions of its browser technology specialist said the BBC's Daniel Emery.

"Something that should be borne in mind is that each browser has its own security problems and fix a problem that could expose users to another," said Cluley, of Shop.

Microsoft acknowledged that all versions of IE are affected by a security breach, but clarified that the risk is lower in recent editions.

Failure to pay Microsoft releasing 358 million to Alcatel Lucent

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Microsoft Corp. does not have to pay Alcatel-Lucent $ 358 million for patent infringement, because a number of problems with the way in which such compensation was calculated.

The patent in dispute relates to a method of inserting information in different parts of a computer screen without using a keyboard. Alcatel-Lucent said that the calendar in Outlook and other Microsoft technology used illegally.

A jury in federal district court ruled that compensation should equal roughly the amount that Microsoft had paid in advance to Alcatel-Lucent to license the technology.

But on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that the telecommunications equipment company did not demonstrate that its technology was valuable enough to warrant the payment of $ 358 million in royalties.

The judges of the appeals court ordered a district court to reconsider the penalty.

Mary Ward, spokeswoman for Alcatel-Lucent, said in an e-mail that the company was disappointed with the decision.

But in the same ruling, the judges reaffirmed the central verdict against Microsoft, considering it was adequately supported by the evidence.

Microsoft shares fell 14 cents Friday to $ 24.86. Shares of Alcatel-Lucent gained 18 cents or 4.6%, to close at $ 4.07.

This patent application is the last of six charges stemming from Lucent Technologies Inc. filed in 2003 against PC makers Gateway Inc. and Dell Inc., on technology developed by Bell Labs, Lucent's research arm. Then, Microsoft joined the list of defendants.