Firefox vs. IE

[funkyworms]

I just opened up 2p2 in IE. I never realized it had ads! And flashing banner ads at that. Gross.

[CORed]

If you are careful with you security settings (both browser and windows), IE (especially IE7) isn't really much more of a security risk than Firefox. That said, I use Firefox because I think it's generally a better browser, and I like performance and the interface (which is really very similar to IE6).

Curiously enough, the only spyware infection I ever got (on a work PC) I got using firefox. I was looking up a song lyric while on lunch break (That's what I told people anyway :-) ), and on a harmless looking site, I got a Java applet dialog saying I needed a plugin to view content on the site, and asking me to approve installation of an signed executable. I bit, and started getting popups right away. I managed to get rid of the crap manually, and the IT folks cleaned up the remnants with Adaware and Windows Defender. My biggest mistakes were that I was running with power user privileges at the time, and that I approved the install without thinking carefully enough.

The point I guess is that the best software and security settings won't protect you if a site manages to trick you into overriding them.

[_dave_]

I like firefox mainly for the SessionSaver plug-in.

Ability to turn on computer and auto-load 20+ 2p2 indexes/thread + other recent sites is just so awesome I'd be internet-tilted without it after all these years of FireFox use [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[funkyworms]

[ QUOTE ]

The point I guess is that the best software and security settings won't protect you if a site manages to trick you into overriding them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Limited users can't install plug-ins.

[CORed]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The point I guess is that the best software and security settings won't protect you if a site manages to trick you into overriding them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Limited users can't install plug-ins.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I know. I quit running as power user or admin routinely after that. I still have an account with admin rights (minus what group policies take away), but I don't use it unless I need it.

[TreyWilly]

Since some of us are starting to share out favorite add-ons, I started a new thread for just such a purpose.

I hope it's not redundant.

[five4suited]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The point I guess is that the best software and security settings won't protect you if a site manages to trick you into overriding them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Limited users can't install plug-ins.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I know. I quit running as power user or admin routinely after that. I still have an account with admin rights (minus what group policies take away), but I don't use it unless I need it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you elaborate on what sort of threat this is to the home user who does use their admin account routinely? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[_dave_]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The point I guess is that the best software and security settings won't protect you if a site manages to trick you into overriding them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Limited users can't install plug-ins.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I know. I quit running as power user or admin routinely after that. I still have an account with admin rights (minus what group policies take away), but I don't use it unless I need it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you elaborate on what sort of threat this is to the home user who does use their admin account routinely? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Classic example, hopefully obvious to most who peruse CTH - those fake pop-ups that claim you have registry errors / spyware infestations. Click here to repair, it claims to install fix, instead installs malware to infest your comp. OK to it's prompts = owned computer [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Bobo Fett]

Thanks everyone...glad to see this sparked some interesting conversation. I think I'll have to at least give Firefox a try. Ditching Norton has been very liberating; perhaps doing the same to IE would be also. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[lastchance]

IE7 is fine. It's not like it's 2 years ago and you're using IE6. IE6 is just awful in every sense of the word.