Fire fox vrs IE

[Tony_photoplus]

Unfortunately I use all this software to combat the baddies as well. AVG, Spyware terminator, FF Script protection, Addblock etc. All this slows down my already slow 56k modem link and the computer!! I also use Sandboxie
Sandboxie - Front Page
Thats another addon!! But an important one.

[notjustgraphics]

Maybe look at it this way....

If you just KNOW you are going to get SHOT, and you have the choice between two pieces of uniform to wear, are you going to shoose the sweater vest or the Class 3 Armor Vest?

You're right, neighter will protect you if you take a point blank to the temple, but it's better safe than sorry... right?

I understand why people who browse websites use internet explorer... it's free, it's built into your computer (permanently) and it's been our defacto window to the net for several years.

There are other options out there... one that is proven to be much more secure and in MY opinion, provides a better browsing experience all around. From a web-developers point of view, if I could send a bill to Microsoft for all of the countless hours I've had to create "workarounds" and "IE Sepcific" code, lets just say it'd put a dent in Gate's fortune.

All that said, I am in touch with the fact the we will never fully see the demise of Internet Explorer. However, I think that if enough people migrate to Firefox or other browsers, Microsoft will take notice and bind IE to the same coding standards... They tried to this with IE7 but failed miserably... not without valid reasons of course, but the issues that prompted this entire thread remain... For most of those who encounter Firefox, IE is not the preferred choice.

Mike.

[agentxi]

Of course our data is very important but i dont think you need all that steel.

when you start getting thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of data on your computer... please tell me you will take more care and caution, cuz if a virus wipes your HD. All that steel along with other measures of security, like backing up your work files, are a necessity.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by paulopires

Of course our data is very important but i dont think you need all that steel.

I don't want to beat this subject to death as I think Mike and agentxi have pretty much said all there is to say, but I'll just comment that this is precisely the complacent attitude that the peddlers of viruses, adware and spyware rely on in order to propagate their crap. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

[paulopires]

Originally Posted by notjustgraphics

I understand why people who browse websites use internet explorer... it's free, it's built into your computer (permanently) and it's been our defacto window to the net for several years.

I can’t agree more with you on this.
A lot of people uses IE because it’s already there and they not want to add another software into their computer. I personally think this is the main reason.
Others think (probably wrong) that IE is the only one that’s 100% compatible with Windows.
Others think that it doesn’t worth the change… they will not feel safer by using any other browser.
Others because they already use it in their daily work.
We cannot blame this people because they think like that. Probably they (and i) need more information on this subject.

It’s not fair calling my attitude complacent, Tamlin. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to defend themselves from this garbage. But like agentxi said only a backup or having another computer just to browse the net can prevent anything or anyone to destroy our data.

Paulo

[notjustgraphics]

Paulopires, you definitely raise some valid points about why people stay with IE.

However, if you re-read the opening post of this thread, Kokopedal asks:

[QUOTE}Tell me again why I should use ff instead of ie.{/QUOTE]

... and that's what we've done.

Even Microsoft will not deny that Firefox is safer than IE... The fundamental reason being that it is not an integral part of the Operating System and therefore does not grant access to vital parts of your system to malicious or unwanted programs.

It's not a matter of whether you FEEL safer or not, It's a matter of actually being safer. My point all along has been that EVERY LITTLE BIT counts. I have to much at risk to take chances with IE when it is proven to be highly insecure.

When you suggested that we "Don't need all that steel" you demonstrated a complacent attitude towards security... something IE has done for a decade, and something that Firefox does not do. If you were not being complacent, you would be avidly seeking the "Most Secure" option and not the "Completely Insecure" option.

I'm sure Tamlin's comment was not intended as a personal insult... it is simply the statement of fact that there are people out there that prey on people who leave themselves open to attack.

If you don't like my Gun analogy, perhaps you'll prefer me comparing the browsers to doors... both provide a passage way to the internet however, Internet Explorer cannot be locked, closed, or barricaded... you are left to deal with intruders after the fact.... Firefox at the very least allows you to close, secure, and deadbolt the door... keeping the majority of unwanted visitors out, and the stuff inside safe.

I'd never leave my house without locking my door, and I try not to surf the net with an insecure browser.

It seems to me that you are greatly offended by the collective agreement here that Firefox is a better choice than Internet Explorer. We represent only 20% or one fifth of the population... There are more of you than there is of us telling us the opposite of what we believe. I am consoled by the knowledge that experienced developers and security savvy browsers almost unanimously purport the advantages of firefox over IE.

To the rest of you, I only hope that you see the light before it's too late.

Sorry if you are offended, it is not my intention but let me say that people offend my experience and my knowledge by telling me that IE is the better choice.

If this thread had not been started, and the collective opinion asked for, I would keep my opinions to myself... but since it has been asked for, and I am happy to share it, i find it surprising that the negativity BioRUST manages to avoid has to seep in.

Mike.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by notjustgraphics

I'm sure Tamlin's comment was not intended as a personal insult... it is simply the statement of fact that there are people out there that prey on people who leave themselves open to attack.

If you don't like my Gun analogy, perhaps you'll prefer me comparing the browsers to doors... both provide a passage way to the internet however, Internet Explorer cannot be locked, closed, or barricaded... you are left to deal with intruders after the fact.... Firefox at the very least allows you to close, secure, and deadbolt the door... keeping the majority of unwanted visitors out, and the stuff inside safe.

I'd never leave my house without locking my door, and I try not to surf the net with an insecure browser.

No, my comment was certainly not intended to offend and I'm sorry if you took it that way. I think Mike has explained the point I was alluding to much more effectively than I could have done. The point is that no browser is 100% secure, just as no house can be made 100% secure, but that doesn't mean you should just disregard security altogether. The fact is that the majority of burglaries are committed by opportunists - people who go for the easy targets (unlocked doors, open windows etc.), and I would guess that the majority of infections of viruses, adware and spyware are a result of a similar opportunism. If a burglar really wants to get into your house, they will find a way in, no matter how much security you have in place, but once you start making it difficult (by locking your doors and windows, fitting alarms etc.) the opportunists won't even bother - they'll look elsewhere for an easier target. Similarly, the bulk of malware is designed to find and exploit the software equivalent of an unlocked door or open window: put a bit of security in place (by browsing with a secure browser) and most malware won't get a look in.

[paulopires]

"greatly offended" Who...me?!!!!!!!
You just missunderstood me in any way.
I never said i was offended nor i said Tamlin's comment was intent to insult me.
Since the begining i was just trying to understand why some people choose IE and others FF. That's all.

There are not two sides here Mike. There's only two different opinions that need to be respected and most of all understood. We are all in the same side. We are all artists that gather here in Biorust to share our work in the gallery and our knowlidge and doubts in this forum.

In your last post you gave me a valid and thecnical explanation why IE is not safe and since nobody else come forward (i wonder why) for me it's a good reason to change.

Paulo

[paulopires]

Thank you Tamlin for your brillant explanation. I do understand a lot better now why FF is more secure than IE.

Thank you again
Paulo

[SonOfSane]

I just wanted to put in my last 2 cents. Everyone brings up good points to why they think one browser is better then the other. But to my defense I didn't call anyone out. I gave my opinion on the question asked. To give your opinion on the question asked is one thing. To start pointing people out for not agreeing with you is another. I have no hard feeling towards anything that was said in this post but I am a rare breed that doesn't get pissed very easy.You don't see people people pulling up next to a older car and screaming out that that cars sucks because it does not have air bags, decent seat belts, and consumes way to much gas even if that is your opinion and the person driving it obviously does not agree with you.

I guess with everything said it's really up to each person to use whatever browser they PERSONALLY feel comfortable with.


P.S. I love ya guys


Be Cool

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by SonOfSane

You don't see people people pulling up next to a older car and screaming out that that cars sucks because it does not have air bags, decent seat belts, and consumes way to much gas even if that is your opinion and the person driving it obviously does not agree with you.

I guess you've never seen Jeremy Clarkson.

[kokopedal]

Ask a simple question, get a simple answer. I knew this might possibly be a controversial question when I asked it but I had no idea that opinions and feelings ran so deep. I think a group hug might be in order,( if any of you want to kiss and make up take it to another forum). It's obvious that we all use different software for different reasons personal preference being the number one reason. I am not a web master, hell I'm just now starting to play with dreamweaver, maybe that's why all that code stuff addons in ff don't mean that much to me. I do however feel safe and secure with my firewalls and other security that I have installed in my computer,and they work weather I use ff or ie. I just switched to ff and I will give it a fair chance,but as of this writing I am still doing a lot of tweeking to set it up the way I want and it has caused me a little more grief than I would like. All of your comments and suggestions have been very helpfull. But seriously stop arguing or I'm going to have to separate you.

[notjustgraphics]

Originally Posted by kokopedal

I do however feel safe and secure with my firewalls and other security that I have installed in my computer,and they work weather I use ff or ie.

I suppose that's part of the problem... no firewall or third-party security program can truly protect you from certain types of attacks... You have to remember that if you are able to view the internet, data is coming into your computer from an external source... with Internet Explorer, there are countless weighs to piggy back harmful data with normal data and you never know about it. It's also possible for people to retrieve data from your computer through the same channels... again, without your knowledge.

Firefox is not an integral part of your operating system and as such, is does not have access to parts of your system the same way IE does. Firefox by design cannot exploit most of the security flaws in Windows that are compounded by Internet Explorer.

If you are ever bored, download a connection monitor and shut down all your internet connections... you'll be amazed at what still goes on as long as your computer is connected.

It hasn't been said yet, so I'll bring it up as one final note... Microsoft's approach to business is wholly dependent on INTELLIGENCE. They gather intelligence 24-7 from your computer... they say it is nothing "identifiable" to you, but it tells them how people use there software, what other programs they use, etc, etc... The have built lines of communication into every software package they issue, including OS's. It is the lines that hackers are exploiting for malicious purposes or even to provide intel to other software companies. MS depends on Internet Explorer to connect with computers... that is why it cannot be removed from your system.

For that reason alone, one should feel compelled to seek a third party browser such as firefox. The other reasons have been compellingly told in above posts... of course we are all free to make our own decision... just do so with all of the facts.

Regards,
Mike.

[Tony_photoplus]

Hurray for democracy and freedom of speech.........

That is if there is such a thing as true democracy and true freedom of speech. Personally I think we have choices, but that's another debate on philosophy and politics...

My choice is FF

[notjustgraphics]

Indeed Tony!

The ability to choose is our greatest privelidge... of all things, that single ability should be protected and excercised vigorously.

Mike.