Buzz Out Loud Lounge forum: What is the 'Internet Explorer Outreach Team'?

aMUSICsite-

Hi, Im Cody, and Im actually a member of this Internet Explorer Outreach Team youre asking about. Although we may have robotic-like consistency, we certainly arent robots. We simply try to keep our messages as consistent and reliable as possible, to help assure users that we arent part of any kind of upcoming malware attack or scam (which we arent).

We are working as a Microsoft-endorsed branch of the Internet Explorer Team (although we arent on the tech developer side of things) to try and help answer questions or concerns that folks might have about Internet Explorer.

Youre right: sometimes, we do link to sites other than official Microsoft ones, as there are sometimes resources on third-party sites that we think are useful, helpful, or at least informative for Internet Explorer users. We never send users to sites that could be potentially dangerous, or advise them to do anything that could cause their systems harm.

Basically, were here to help, and we want to join in on the Internet Explorer discussion that is happening around the web. However, we dont want to be mindless random robots that do nothing but drop links in comment threads all day: we always try to add value to the conversation or at least point users towards resources we think theyll find useful.

I hope this helps to answer some of your questions, please let me know if theres anything else youd like to know.

Thanks,
Cody
Internet Explorer Outreach Team

... if he actually said something though.

I mean, if that was a "Hello, we're pimping IE" then I really need to start calling a spade a ground-based organic compound relocation system.

As a consultant, I am constantly troubleshooting Microsoft issues, and IE8 has created innumerable problems for my clients.

However, there is no air of legitimacy to this Internet Explorer Outreach Team, IMO.

At best, MS has wreaked havoc across the Web and has been forced to tidy it's own litter box for a change. Ha - As if.

At second best, it's a thinly veiled attempt to unearth copyright issues using the pretense of technical support.

At worst, it is a group of hackers trying to capitalize on the IE8 debacle.

The fact that these team members do not appear on Web sites where there is no possibility of DMCA violations is also highly illuminating.

Sorry "Cody", but I have, and will continue, to insist that my clients block access to their Web sites by any members of your so-called Team.

Be it malware, a concerted cyber attack, or an ill-disguised effort at copyright enforcement, my clients lose nothing by barring you, as they can easily get the same information from the official Microsoft site.

And if by some stretch of the imagination you are a bona fide authorized arm of MS, more shame to you. Your new, "upgraded" products prove more troublesome with every iteration, and this from an IT professional. I can't bear to think what the less knowledgeable and experienced end users go through!

I do thank you and Microsoft though - without these shoddy releases, I might have to join the ranks of the unemployed. As it is, your desire to dominate the market with substandard products will put my kids through college.