[lotuseclat79]

Article here.

The study "Understanding the Web browser threat: Examination of vulnerable online Web browser populations and the "insecurity iceberg," was a collaborative effort conducted by researchers at The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Google and IBM Internet Security Services. The research offers a comprehensive analysis of Web browsers, particularly in the area of security. The study's aim was to analyze Web browser preference and behavior for people using the Internet.

-- Tom

[helpmerick]

Great article. Thanks for positing. I'm a firm believer that the amount of spyware and malware questions on TSG and elsewhere would drop at least 50%, probably more, if computer users would simply switch to Firefox or even Opera. On top of that, throw on AVG AntiVirus and stay behind a firewall and even fewer problems would exist.

Thanks agian.

[DarqueMist]

Originally Posted by helpmerick

.... I'm a firm believer that the amount of spyware and malware questions on TSG and elsewhere would drop at least 50%, probably more, if computer users would simply switch to Firefox or even Opera.....

Thanks agian.

Was an interesting read, but it raises a sort of horse and cart issue. Are people more secure because they use browsers like firefox and opera or are the people using those browsers just more tech savy and threat conscious than the typical IE user? I think a big part of the reason firefox and opera users appear to be safer is because of the other measures they take (using extensions like noscript and flash block, not clicking on suspect links, keeping AV and antispyware progs up to date).

[helpmerick]

I also believe that, in general, Firefox users tend to be more experienced computer users, thus have safer browsing habits and security knowledge. However, I am a door-to-door computer help guy (NOT with the geek squad, I have my own independent business), and I can tell you from real world knowledge, that the beginners and teens and young adults that I install AVG and Firefox on, have virtually no problems with security and they are doing all the same online activities that their IE counterparts are doing and I'm at their homes fixing their computers, removing malware, etc.

Also, lost in this discussion, is the vast amount of AOL users out there who use it as their primary browser, thus as we all know are using the problem laden IE platform.

You raise an excellent point about Firefox users being generally savvier computer users, but I know that any Firefox user is a safer computer user, regardless of experience. This should be a fun thread to watch over the next few days...at least I hope so.

[bp936]

Since I switched to Firefox a few years ago, I had a lot less problems with internet, less crashes overall. Had hardly any pop-ups, intrusions, etc.
Used AVG for a longtime, but for some reason can't get the new free version installed, so I bought Kaspersky Internet Security.

The real test is, when you are on "dial-up" like I haver to be, Internet Explorer crawls but Firefox is a lot speedier and smoother, with no hickups.

I guess with highspeed one would not see such a difference as I see. But this tells me Firefox is a lot sleeker program.
I would recommend it to anyone.

[hewee]

I could say the same for netscape because everyone used to use it years ago and the everyone was getting IE and you see people posting on getting this or that and they was using IE. Now Firefox is even better then the Netscape ever was.