C
I Host Warns Customers To Switch Browsers Re: IE Vulnerability
[January 12, 2005]
CEO Christopher Faulkner Calls For Improved CyberSecurity
FORT
WORTH (January 12, 2005) - Reacting swiftly to news
of a serious security flaw in one of the world's most
popular browsers, C I Host has sent out a security alert
to warn its more than 215,000 customers to disable Internet
Explorer's active X support or switch to another browser
until Microsoft issues a patch to fix the problem.
C
I Host, which provides hosting services from shared
to enterprise packages, has also taken steps to protect
its servers in its data centers.
In
addition, C I Host CEO Christopher Faulkner, a widely
recognized expert on cybersecurity, called on Microsoft
and other software companies to become more proactive
in protecting consumers and businesses from hackers.
"It
is unconscionable that these huge software companies
continue to drag their feet in developing ways to prevent
vulnerabilities, and then can't provide patches and
solutions in a timely manner," Faulkner said.
"Governments,
businesses, health care institutions and everyday working
men and women depend on the Internet. We have to do
a better job of protecting it."
Secunia,
an IT security company, called this IE vulnerability
"extremely critical," its highest category.
Thomas Kristensen, Secunia's chief technology officer,
said the vulnerability is that dangerous because it
represents "a working exploit out there that doesn't
require user interaction."
Microsoft
has confirmed in news reports that it is investigating
a problem issue in IE and has posted a temporary workaround
to protect users from the flaw.
"This
is a huge problem because it allows hackers to plant
viruses that attack computers without users having to
do anything or interact with their computer in any way,"
Faulkner said. "This flaw can let hackers put spyware
and pornography dialers on consumers' and businesses'
computers without their knowledge."
C
I Host has security engineers working around the clock
to monitor all forms of security attacks or breaches,
including the discovery of vulnerabilities or the release
of viruses, worms or other forms of malicious code.
--About C I Host--
C
I Host (www.cihost.com),
based in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, is a Web hosting
and Internet solutions provider, domain name registrar
(DNR) and application service provider (ASP) serving
215,000 individual consumers and businesses in 190 countries
worldwide.
C
I Host creates business-class Web hosting solutions
for the small- and medium-enterprise (SME) market, with
the broadest portfolio of managed hosting and value-added
services in the industry. C I Host is accredited by
ICANN to register domain names.
C I Host is HIPAA-compliant and has
passed the SAS70 Type I audit.
C
I Host has been ranked #1 in speed by the Adoloma Web
Hosting Guide. C I Host has been consistently ranked
among the Top 5 Web hosting companies out of 16,000
around the globe by c|net's Ultimate Web Host List,
HostPulse, WebHostsOnline.com and HostChart.com. C I
Host was named among the Top 25
Web hosting companies by HostIndex.com.
C
I Host offers turn-key services ranging from initial
domain name registration to custom dedicated servers
for e-commerce on today's Web. The company offers innovative
packages and services to the Internet community.
C
I Host operates three diverse data centers across the
United States, with its main facility and Network Operations
Center in Bedford, Texas. C I Host also has offices
in Los Angeles, Chicago and London.
All
telco-grade, tier-1 data centers are wholly owned and
operated by C I Host and consist of redundant diesel
generator backups and a temperature-controlled secure
environment with fully redundant UPS capability. All
server hardware is fully tested and configured for optimal
performance. Daily Web server backups and full fire
protection guard against any data loss. To deliver speed
and reliability, C I Host's servers are connected to
its privately-owned dark fiber network consisting of
multiple GigE (1000Mbits each) optical connections to
redundant Internet backbones for a total of more than
5 Gigabits of available bandwidth.
###
Editorial Contact:
D. Kent Pingel
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public
Relations
C I Host
888-868-9931 ext. 7006
kentp@cihost.com |
