Internet Explorer - time to ditch it once and for all

[Timsk 10]

Want to give access to confidential local files on a PC after only visiting a website with Internet Explorer? This sounds like just yet another scare story, but with good cause - it is very serious, and I would urge you not to ignore it.

A flaw in the overall design of IE which is NOT patchable with yet another 'critical update' makes it relatively simple (for those that are keen enough at least) to gain access to local files on your PC.

If you haven't already, switch to another browser on any PC you access or store confidential data.

The original articles at Black Hat detailing the precise attack vectors are currently offline, but you can get a flavour of the problem from http://www.taranfx.com/ie-flaw-public-files

[TheEpicPlum 10]

I don't know how to add a homepage on Safari, so therefore I do not like it. I'll stick with Internet Explorer.

[Tom. 10]

Use chrome or firefox then?!

[-sophie- 10]

I don't know how to add a homepage on Safari, so therefore I do not like it. I'll stick with Internet Explorer.

...and your computer will die.

The first thing I did when I got a new computer was to download Google Chrome. All of the others seem rubbish.

If you're on Safari, you change your homepage like this:

[MrDoovdeHaxorz 11]

I don't know how to add a homepage on Safari, so therefore I do not like it. I'll stick with Internet Explorer.

There are alternatives other than Safari... and they all in my experience use similar ways of setting homepages OR will transfer settings across when you install.

EDIT: It's as easy as the screenshots in Sophie's post... which is similar to IE.

On a slightly different note, IE is the weakest browser out there these days, flawed, ridden with security holes you could drive a bus through and with every release copies something that ALL the rivals have had for months if not years.

[newsbeat 10]

I would really recommend Google Chrome, it's so fast, and I only have a 3GB RAM Intel i2 Core Duo 2.5Hz computer! Google Chrome works really well!

[awinfield999 10]

I quite like Firefox - just the organised downloads and tabs that open instead of a new window. Good browser though.

[Tom. 10]

whats wrong with the downloads or tabs in firefox? (right click, open in new tab)

[DarkAngelMJH 12]

I like firefox also

[TheEpicPlum 10]

Hmm. I may bookmark this for when I am next on Lime, my laptop.

[-sophie- 10]

Firefox is alright... It's much slower than Chrome though, and it's frame takes up more space. I only use it at College because the only alternative is IE. Urgh.

I've tried a few...

Pahaha at the UM link... :confused:

[awinfield999 10]

Like it!

And I meant that I LIKED the tabs and the download thing with it organising!

[DC 84]

my computer has a dual core processor, so firefox loads up pretty fine with me. don't like google chrome at all, and i dumped of internet explorer ages ago.

[R94N 10]

Internet Explorer has the most security flaws and vulnerabilities because that's what the majority of people use, still (although the other browsers are catching up in terms of market share). There's more people out there that bad guys can target (!). You can kinda say that with the Mac OS as well; there are security problems there but they're just not targeted as much because they're aren't as many systems out there running Mac OS.

Personally, I use Firefox (the Version 4 Beta is great!) and Safari. They work fine for me so I don't really want to change. LastPass (a password manager, so I can use really long and secure passwords but 'remember' them) works great with all browsers so it's an added bonus.

[cxx666 10]

I have both Chrome and IE on both of my laptops, however I am using IE 99% of the time.

The problem I have with other browsers is the temporary internet files are so hard to locate, with IE I know exactly where to go to retrieve pictures and videos which are embedded and I'm not supposed to be able to save to disk.

Glad to see people using things other than Firefox as an alternative though, my brother uses it on his computer as far as I know and frankly I will jam my testicles in a vice before I become a Firefox user

[E*F*4L 10]

i use FireFox & it's rubbish now

i use Chrome but i don't like the way it steals all your info & everything you type into it so it can bombard you with relative adverts, i only use it for facebook though,

i also have IE9 BETA & that seems pretty good,

i may switch to Opera though as Firefox is crap.

[R94N 10]

Why do people feel Firefox is bad? I'm not sure what the problem is with it.

[E*F*4L 10]

mine keeps crashing all the time !

[aleksander 10]

I use IE9 Beta and it is extremely good and I think that even 'IE haters' would like it if they tried it.

[Jugalug 10]

I used to love Firefox - but it's not as fast as it was and the UI is not as good as Chrome's.

[Nik B. 10]

I used to love Firefox - but it's not as fast as it was and the UI is not as good as Chrome's.

Oh you obviously haven't Seen FF4 then

I use a highly modified version of Firefox these days. I used to use safari but when that broke I went back to FF. It just works, but people will always see IE as a better alternative cos it's simply, always there. No fuss. Just start it and go, no extra downloading, installing, etc. But of course, those are the dumb people. With that Microsoft You Choose your browser thingy, I hope more people are adopting different browsers, mainly because IE sucks xD

[DC 84]

i keep internet explorer, i've never deleted it. because there are a few elements within ie that firefox needs to use on some websites. there's always the ie plugin for firefox which can be used too.

[R94N 10]

Actually yeah, on Windows systems the OS actually uses Internet Explorer for things like updates and things and generally accessing the Internet for system operations, so you'll want to keep it up to date even if you don't use it. I don't think you can actually delete it but I'm not sure.

[MrDoovdeHaxorz 11]

No, you can remove elements of it, but it's built right into the programming of Windows itself (basically an extension of Windows Explorer) so if you were somehow able to remove it, you would be screwing up Windows even more than Microsoft already did when they brought out Vista...

[Ratscallion 11]

I stopped using IE years ago, it's just always been too slow for me, and then there's the fact that on top of that it's just generally not safe.. As in, at all..

I didn't really like Opera that much.. Not really sure if there was a reason for it, I just didn't like it that much.

Firefox, I do like. It's a bit slow if there're a load of tabs open (I've almost always got at least 5 open, usually it's 10+); but in the ways of customisation, it's a real legend. Themes (now personas), extensions, plugins, the lot - firefox has it. Which, I really do think, is one of the things that the other browsers are now needing to catch up on.. (As well as support for this, that and the other).

Safari I like. It's a good, solid browser. Fairly quick, and has support for plenty.. Well, except Flash. It practically dies the moment it touches some Flash for me.. :/

Then, Chrome. I love it. I've got two OSs on here, so the fact that it can sync things between machines using the Google account is something I'm really glad exists (even if it does play up frequently enough). It's quick, loads, and supports everything I need it for (whether that be HTML5, Flash, whatever).

In all, Chrome's for me, with Firefox a close second, Safari in a comfortable third position, Opera happy at fourth, and then IE bringing up the rear.. After every other browser I'd use. So, 10th or something