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Post by leonardo on Feb 3, 2005 17:02:39 GMT
Any thoughts on this from our IT members. I've heard what it about but would like more info. The following I got from another site.
"You can download Mozilla Firefox from Mozilla's Web site although I'm not sure if it provides the option of remembering the last sites you visited to open next time.
Alternatively, you can download SlimBrowser from Flashpeak web site. Unfortunately, SlimBrowser is based on Internet Explorer and therefore shares its weaknesses. However, if you don't experience any problems at the moment, it should be OK and seems to have more features than Firefox.
I've stopped using it myself because whenever I do I find files in my Windows/Temp directory ending in .DAT and which my AVG Antivirus tells me contain trojan/viruses and despite deleting them and running all sorts of utilities that pronounce my hard drive clean of any nasties they kept reappearing, whereas I've not seen sign or hair of them since reverting to Mozilla (because it's not based on IE).
To be fair, IE is probably no more inherently insecure than Mozilla but as something like 95% of Web surfers use IE, hackers tend to concentrate on finding its weaknesses in order to spread their nasties whereas so few people use Mozilla by comparison that they don't bother to look for its weaknesses.
Type 'tabbed browser' into Google and no doubt you'll find other examples e.g. Opera."
This is all I know at the moment. The big question is is it safe to a different browser? All I've ever used is Internet Explorer.
Any thoughts?
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bod
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UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
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Post by bod on Feb 3, 2005 17:37:03 GMT
It probably won't surprise you to hear that I run both Firefox and IE at home.
There are occasional conflicts, and the more popular AV software occasionally needs a different dhoo-hickey to work with Firefox, I know that McAfee requires a Mozilla/Netscape file to work properly.
It was incredibly easy to download and install, and it is as easy (if not easier) than IE to use.
Go for it Leo - just remember the first rule - always back up before sys changes!
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Post by leonardo on Feb 3, 2005 22:57:16 GMT
Go for it Leo - just remember the first rule - always back up before sys changes! Thanks Bod for the advice. I will still think it over. I am very much of the type who say "If it ain't broke........." I always thought there was only the one browser. I guess I'm still a baby
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Post by Jumile on Feb 4, 2005 0:23:57 GMT
I use Firefox exclusively at home, and I have an extension added to it that lets me automagically open a link in Internet Exploder should Firefox have problems (~5% of pages are so badly coded, I mean... IE-centric that they won't work with other browsers). FWIW, I also use Thunderbird - Mozilla's email and news client - and find it to be brilliant. This is after years of being a Eudora fan for 10 years, and then a The Bat! user for 2 (before that it was all UNIX-based). The prime reason for going away from Internet Exploder is simply that it's the cheapest ride in town, the town bike - or whatever metaphor you like - it is a magnet for malicious code, largely due to Microsoft's undocumented features (some intentional, some bugs) and the way it which it does the Borg thing of completely integrating with every part of the operating system and other Microsoft apps on your PC. Other browsers don't do this - they're web browsers that can call/load other applications, but aren't a part of them. If you're happy with IE (as you say, the "if it ain't broke..." situation), then stick with it. The IT security community, however, has recommended the other option. Seriously... major security advisories actually came out in 2004 telling people to ditch IE or risk the magnetic poles turning on their axis (ok... so not quite that drastic). Talk about risking your neck against the planet's second biggest company. Anyway, it's your choice. Enjoy the dilemma.
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bod
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Post by bod on Feb 4, 2005 0:54:54 GMT
Leo - Matt knoweth more than I have forgotten about IT security and vulnerabilites and the like.
Depending on your internet connection - i.e broadband or dial-up - it should be fairly pain free to download it. You can send off for the cd and some computer mags have it as a covermount.
I'd recommend anyone using broadband to have a firewall - its essential, and if using wireless broadband a router iwth a NATS translator is a really really good idea as well as your firewall. AV should be on everyones machine if they are online, and something like Spybot or Ad-aware too to help keep the gremlins at bay.
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bod
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Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Feb 4, 2005 1:02:18 GMT
I always thought there was only the one browser. Thats what Bill and his microserfs want you to think! Mozilla/Firefox is the latest incarnatation of a browser technology called 'Netscape' - I loved Netscape - it worked, and worked well. Unfortunately IE got bundled with Windoze and the rest is history. Will we ever see the Seattle giant loose it's top spot - maybe - but it will be a long time in coming. The biggest push that alternative vendors would get is for all public and government bodies to move away from automatically asking for Microsoft in their tenders, this is happening and there are more and more stories in the trade press of large organisations using Linux, Star-Office, and the like. One very large US investment bank runs its entire trading operation very succesfully on Linux servers - getting something like 40 million transactions through it.
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Post by leonardo on Feb 4, 2005 9:16:33 GMT
Matt/Bod,
Thank you both for the excellent responses.
After sleeping on things overnight I've come to the conclusion that it is probably best to remain with Internet Explorer, at least for the foreseeable future. It is an interesting dilemma, nonetheless. I've no doubt there are many, perhaps millions, all over the world who find themselves in a similar predicament on a daily basis.
I suppose it would be a relatively simple task to return to I. E. if I found it wasn't to my liking. All I will say at this stage is that I haven't given up on the notion completely.
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Michael
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Post by Michael on Feb 4, 2005 13:09:59 GMT
most of the last few posts is so far over my head that I checked to make sure I was still on the right site. I know what I need... (no comments Leo. I need Mat or Bod to be passing through Manchester and want some free accommodation, well, almost free.
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bod
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Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Feb 4, 2005 13:26:11 GMT
Happy to work for food - and Manchester Masonic Hall is worth a visit I understand - we'd need a weekend meeting tho'...... ;D
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Michael
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... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
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Post by Michael on Feb 4, 2005 13:46:27 GMT
I'll have to think about that..... Ok you talked me in to it.
I will see which lodges meet at Bridge Street on a weekend, and get back to you. I presume a guided tour would not go amiss???
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bod
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Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Feb 4, 2005 14:05:33 GMT
I'll have to think about that..... Ok you talked me in to it. I will see which lodges meet at Bridge Street on a weekend, and get back to you. I presume a guided tour would not go amiss??? AKA 'pub crawl??' ;D
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