Leaked Microsoft IE7 beta build remains available

Redmond (WA) - Build 5299 of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7.0, whose unauthorized leak to public sources yesterday prompted the company to demand the perpetrator remove it from his Web site, remains openly available through a German file mirroring and Web hosting service, TG Daily confirmed through direct experiment this afternoon.

The file was located during a search of a prominent, self-described "underground" search engine. Several other items purporting to be IE 7.0 Build 5299 also turned up in the search, including a few unsolicited links to apparent porn providers. Once we located a package that appeared to be "genuine," TG Daily downloaded it to verify its contents, but did not install it on any of our systems.

Included along with the package, disturbingly, is what the accompanying .NFO file describes as a test root certificate store. The beta package may be testing the authenticity of the user’s stated identity, prior to allowing its contents to be installed. If this certificate can thwart the authentication process so easily, the effectiveness of Microsoft’s "Genuine Advantage Validation" system may be in jeopardy.

Microsoft was notified of our having downloaded this build, as well as the URL where it was obtained. The company had not returned comment by press time.