Sometimes it seems like we’re never going to be totally safe using the Internet, with new viruses popping up all the time. The latest vulnerability is the Heartbleed Bug that affects the very websites that are supposed to be the safest. Do you still feel safe using the Internet after the Heartbleed Bug?
SSL and TLS are designed to keep information secure over the Internet, providing communication security and privacy over websites using the OpenSSL cryptographic software library. The Heartbleed Bug popped up on April 7, affecting TLS and leaving us with warnings to change our passwords as the bug could be making data, such as our names and passwords, open to the public. Not that there isn’t a fix for it. The same day the bug was released, they also released a fix for it. However, it’s up to operating system vendors, appliance vendors, and independent software vendors to adopt the fix.
This means anyone who has stored data on websites is left vulnerable, as we don’t know who has installed the fix and who hasn’t. Some vendors have already been emailing users to let them know they have employed the fix, but they are warning users to change their passwords. Is this enough or are we still vulnerable?
Do you think the Internet is safe after the Heartbleed bug?
