Web Browser

Ok I have firefox right now but I hear the dev team is falling apart I
have tried opera but it really blows. Can anyone suggest a GOOD browser?

What's wrong with FireFox? It works fine for me.

Don't trust any rumors until the browser itself is falling apart. It's pretty bug-free so far.

Last time I checked the development team was a community

And if you want an alternative to Firefox, try regular mozilla. I perfer it actually.
Other then that, Netscape is exactly the same as mozilla now too.

You don't want any of the other browsers, trust me.

Good God. Use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is a damn fine browser. Tell me one thing bad about it. I'm sick of people whining about it all the time.

I personally combo Firefox, IE and Opera all for different functions and uses since each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Good God. Use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is a damn fine browser. Tell me one thing bad about it. I'm sick of people whining about it all the time.

It allows root access to your system. Where as a browser like mozilla requires permission by the user. In fact, the largest issue with Windows in general is that there's constant root access to your system.

It really isn't a damn fine browser. MS doesn't even think it's a damn fine browser. They're trying to find people to lead up the "Secure IE" team. No one will take the healm.

When was the last time someone accessed your system root through IE?

I like Firefox because it has a handy Web Developer toolbar, tabbed
browsing, and RSS bookmarks, as well as other things that I can't
remember right now. :smile:

IE literally gave life to spyware

http://www.maxthon.com/

Max is a good program, its based on the IE standard but has better
security, tabbed browseing and it seems to load faster than FireFox.

I also like this one..

http://www.phaseout.net/ ( this is what I use now. Its radicle )

Do a Google search for Tabbed Browser, there are hundreds of them now..
some blow, some are worth a try.. its all about what you want out of
your browser. Some people like to skin the browser, some want it to be
very clean and simple, and some people want it to rock there sox off..

Here is one that I have just downloaded to give a try.. never seen it before..

http://www.kopassa.com/

And this fool points at self uses...netscape :smile: .

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Dash</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>IE literally gave life to spyware
</DIV></DIV>
Yes, and eventually we'll have Firefox spyware and the same stuff- whatever browser people use, miscreants and ne'er-do-wells will target them! IE is fine for the most part, and as it's got a better Google toolbar I've never once felt like moving to Mozilla. Opera just sucks ass, though, hate it.

Dash said:
IE literally gave life to spyware

Yes, and eventually we'll have Firefox spyware and the same stuff-
whatever browser people use, miscreants and ne'er-do-wells will target
them! IE is fine for the most part, and as it's got a better Google
toolbar I've never once felt like moving to Mozilla. Opera just sucks
ass, though, hate it.

IE allows ActiveX. That's the main problem. Get rid of ActiveX, add
tabbed browsing, and Firefox will have a very small advantage left

Since moving to firefox, Ive been very happy with it. I've not found the need to try anything else out. IE isnt that bad imo, its just firefox feels like a nicer piece of software, a bit simpler, more secure, not as bloated etc.

I use firefox and it crashes on me at least once a day. But I can't vouch for the stability of my system itself :razz:

Since I'm always a good decade or so behind with hardware, I like my
programs short and sweet; all the pointless extras and nipple tassles
stuffed into programs only serve to give me more headaches.

ne'er-do-wells

Made me chuckle. :smile:

How about PNG alpha transparancy? IE is one of few major browsers that still doesn't support it...

But that's probably not meaningfull to the average user. I think a
browser choice is still a personal preference. Some like it different
than others, some make more use of specific options than others.

// Me looks at IE history thread... yeah, some specific options indeed... :razz:

There's nothing specfically bad about IE, it's just there are a
load more features in Firefox. Using the school PCs I really miss the
tabbed browsing, ability to handle RSS, and the various extensions (all
seven) which I use with Firefox.

is there any point in using non IE browsers for their 'security', if you still have IE installed on your system? i'll admit that i know very little about this stuff, but i do know that i've read some critical update bumf that clearly stated you would still be at risk, even if you didn't use IE. Just having it installed on your system would put you at risk.

if MS have got around this entirely, then fine. but if not, i don't see any point in using 'secure' browsers if you're gonna keep IE installed. unless you like them for their other features.

I would have thought that any security flaws in IE are only vulnerable
if you are actually using IE. I keep IE for things like Windows update
and a select few sites which don't like Firefox. Incidentally,
<A HREF="http://bobloco.freeunixhost.com/blog" TARGET="_blank">my blog</A> doesn't really work
in IE, but works fine in Firefox!

is there any point in using non IE browsers for their
'security', if you still have IE installed on your system? i'll admit
that i know very little about this stuff, but i do know that i've read
some critical update bumf that clearly stated you would still be at
risk, even if you didn't use IE. Just having it installed on your
system would put you at risk.
if MS have got around this entirely, then fine. but if not, i don't
see any point in using 'secure' browsers if you're gonna keep IE
installed. unless you like them for their other features.

That's very true. IE is built so deeply into windows that it is
impossible to remove it completely without losing a lot of
functionality. Lots of applications, (e.g. WMP) will still require IE
to function, so this leaves a lot of exploitable holes open.

Apparently, the newer WMV pr0n videos come with DRM, which causes WMP
to contact the website of the owner through IE. Instant Spyware :biggrin:

dont use Windows media player. Use Winamp. No more auto linking and popup spyware. If the video file yu are trying to play doesnt work, YOU DON'T WANT IT ANYWAY.

I use Firefox. Firefox feels overall nicer than IE, with lots of nice plugins and extensions for those who want.

IE isn't meeting the W3C standards, I think.

dont use Windows media player. Use Winamp. No more auto linking and popup spyware. If the video file yu are trying to play doesnt work, YOU DON'T WANT IT ANYWAY.

That's exactly why many people use Firefox. Now maybe your earlier question [quoted below] has an answer.

Good God. Use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is a damn fine
browser. Tell me one thing bad about it. I'm sick of people whining
about it all the time.

BTW, I don't use WMP... I just spent a few hours cleaning up a friends
machine due to this crap, so I was just ranting, I guess. My view on
browsers, audio players, operating systems and whatnot is similar to
Gorb's view on browsers. Use whatever does your work best.

Good God. Use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is a damn
fine browser. Tell me one thing bad about it. I'm sick of people
whining about it all the time.

I'll tell you why IE sucks, and I won't use it.

1.) Microsoft does not comply to the W3C standards on CSS, thus
making CSS's screw up in Internet Explorer, making people use improper
coding to make it compatible with Internet Explorer.

2.) Internet Explorer does not handle .PNG's properly, by using
IE you cannot have a transparent PNG, while any other Browser you can,
once again not complying with W3C standards.

3.) Internet Explorer supports ActiveX, there is no use for
activeX but to install/stream content or malware without your consent
or knowledge. Now this may not be a problem for the savy user,
however, I do Computer Repair for a living, and you know how big of a
problem this is with the general public?

4.) Internet Explorer is just slow. Compare the speed in
page loading to Mozilla, and Internet Explorer loses like a 65 year old
parapalegic in a 40meter Dash.

5.) Internet Explorer is built directly into the shell of
Windows. Thus making program crashes/hangs affect your whole OS.

6.) Security anyone? Enough said, using Internet Explorer
without Windows Updates is like having unprotected sex with
hookers. Someone's bound to end up with something.

Now some of you will bring up, over time Firefox will get spyware like
IE, I don't think so folks, 95% of all spyware is from ActiveX OR
Installing Programs. Only other way people have access to stream
"directed" ads at you is by using Cookies via. Java Script.

Next I'm sure I'm gonna see, "Webpages don't work with Mozilla." well
guess what, that's the fault of the poor webdesigner. If they'd
learn to program the right way and create a W3 Compliant multi-platform
website, there would be no problems, however, most people just don't
know, or are FrontPage kiddies.

BTW: WINAMP sucks, use Foobar and hear real quality.

Willow, you're so right on about these points. I personally
suffered a spyware attack couple of months ago when I was still
un-enlightened. Ever since my PC recovered, I've been using
FireFox without problem.

And I author CSS, so I know how stupid IE can be when it comes to
formatting stuff correctly. Interestingly, the version of IE for
Apple computers adhere to CSS very well. It's just the Windows
version that's completely ignorant.

I'll tell you why IE sucks, and I won't use it.

1.) Microsoft does not comply to the W3C standards on CSS, thus
making CSS's screw up in Internet Explorer, making people use improper
coding to make it compatible with Internet Explorer.

2.) Internet Explorer does not handle .PNG's properly, by using
IE you cannot have a transparent PNG, while any other Browser you can,
once again not complying with W3C standards.

3.) Internet Explorer supports ActiveX, there is no use for
activeX but to install/stream content or malware without your consent
or knowledge. Now this may not be a problem for the savy user,
however, I do Computer Repair for a living, and you know how big of a
problem this is with the general public?

4.) Internet Explorer is just slow. Compare the speed in
page loading to Mozilla, and Internet Explorer loses like a 65 year old
parapalegic in a 40meter Dash.

5.) Internet Explorer is built directly into the shell of
Windows. Thus making program crashes/hangs affect your whole OS.

6.) Security anyone? Enough said, using Internet Explorer
without Windows Updates is like having unprotected sex with
hookers. Someone's bound to end up with something.

Now some of you will bring up, over time Firefox will get spyware like
IE, I don't think so folks, 95% of all spyware is from ActiveX OR
Installing Programs. Only other way people have access to stream
"directed" ads at you is by using Cookies via. Java Script.

Next I'm sure I'm gonna see, "Webpages don't work with Mozilla." well
guess what, that's the fault of the poor webdesigner. If they'd
learn to program the right way and create a W3 Compliant multi-platform
website, there would be no problems, however, most people just don't
know, or are FrontPage kiddies.

:smile:

The "slower" issue is because of the different algorithms. Gecko and the other one ... don't remember. IE loads images first, Mozilla loads text first blah blah blah.

But yes, having IE built into the Windows' interface is very easy root/Admin access. Couple that with it being "most attacked" and you're pretty much f**ked.

DarkTree, the entire point is, unless you write/get some program that watches all this take place you wont know. Every time you get a virus or spyware ... any time anything is written to the registry ... etc.

The same differences run through Linux and Windows ... it seems the "yay windows" people honestly don't understand the security differences.
The only way Windows, in general, could be said to be "more secure" is because there are actually protection measures on your administrative account to stop malicious programs and such ... there are none in Linux. However, you don't work as a root in linux usually, especially not online. I think the issue between browsers is the same situation ...

For example what would be more secure:

1) A locked safe with two levels of security/passwords

2) A completely open safe with a couple of s**tty tracking shot guns on each wall

Secondly, I'm not even sure what MS's buffer checking and input verifications are like. If someone doesn't check their buffers, you have no idea how easy it is to type in some assembly code after the input that will get written to memory and executed ... doing whatever, usually opening up a root console (works on any platform if the front end doesn't check, because the front end probably has admin/root access and the program is being ran from there)

Anyway, whatever. Use what you like.

Firefox with adblock and pipelining enabled is beautiful for general browsing.

i do and i actually have pictures of people abusing the root acess...
they turned my desktop into an "active desktop" with a page that
relayed viruses to my computer i can even find the thread in which i
talked about it.

Hmmm...I have never had any sort of problems....ever...with virus' or spyware with IE. Any spyware or virus' I get are directly from an error on my part.

When was the last time someone accessed your system root through IE?

Just yesterday, I suddenly got casino crap on my computer, and I wondered why? then I realized that i was using ie.

I dont think firefox is going anywhere, its gotton too popular to disappear.

Yeah, firefox is huge now, its definitely not going anywhere.

How much does a hardware firewall help with all this? I've never used anything but IE, and the only times I've gotten viruses/spyware was from downloading disreputable software (Kazaa). However, I always keep my security settings at medium or above with ActiveX disabled and I am behind a linksys firewall. The worst that has ever happened to me was visiting a site that automatically set my "homepage" to something screwy.

Not very much TB, because if you're running through a program, technically, you're requesting the files that are being sent in. That's why it's important to have something on the software end. (software firewalls are just garbage in my opinion.)

There are some fancy virus protection programs though. I forget the name, but, there's a buisness virus blocker that severs network access upon finding a virus and basically locks down your computer until it finds it. If it can't destroy it: it'll give instructions on how to find out and such. Overkill for a home computer, but awesome nonetheless.

The entire "threat" of viruses comes from the root access thing. If you actually had no root access, then your computer would be (theoretically) safe; rather, it would, at least, be much more difficult (thus not worth) to put a virus on it without detection.

I'm rambling, sorry.