In the past month or two I've read at least four pieces by tech authors that say we shouldn't be using Microsoft Internet Explorer as a web browser any more. (That includes using Outlook Express as an e-mail client too.) This is due to security concerns that just aren't being addressed by Microsoft. And when they are, another vulnerability pops up every week, it seems; it's just a never-ending game of playing catch-up that Mr. Gates can't seem to win.

Links to these articles:

"Time to Dump Internet Explorer" --
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/249

"Internet Explorer Is Too Dangerous to Keep Using" --
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1617927,00.asp

"Why You Should Dump Internet Explorer" --
link

"It's Getting More Dangerous Out There" --
http://www.securitypipeline.com/trends/index.jhtml

(These tech articles aren't necessarily written by Christians, so there might be a questionable word or concept presented here and there.)

I myself haven't used IE for years now, for anything besides doing Windows Update, which doesn't work with any other browser. Windows XP has an auto-update feature built in, so IE isn't even necessary for Windows Updates in XP. Every now and then you might run across a site that has special features that only work with IE, but that's rare these days.

That last article says, in part,

"First, if you're still using Internet Explorer, you need to ask yourself why. Alternative browsers such as Firefox and Mozilla can access nearly all the sites that Internet Explorer can. They're free, and they're not susceptible to attacks that threaten Internet Explorer."

Those browsers are available, for free, at

http://www.mozilla.org

Mozilla page -- http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/

Firefox (browser) page -- http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Thunderbird (e-mail client) page --
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

The Mozilla browser has browser and e-mail all in one; or you can use the Firefox browser/Thunderbird e-mail client combination. Either works well. Firefox is a little faster than Mozilla, but is still technically in 'beta' stage. Mozilla is more fully developed. But Firefox works well, I use it every day.

There's also the Opera browser, available in free (ad-supported) and paid versions, at

http://www.opera.com/

===

[edit] Yet another dump-IE article, from respected tech columnist Brian Livingston:

"Run, Don't Walk, from Internet Explorer" --
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3379651

[ July 13, 2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: John ]

I use firefox, Opera and NS 7.1, but I prefer firefox as it is lightweight, and seems to be compliant to current webstandards. Anyways its about time IE goes to the recycle bin >
God Bless,
Will

So, what do you do? Download the new browser, then go into Program Files and uninstall Internet Explorer? I agree IE is inadequate, but am afraid that uninstalling it will do damage to my other programs, etc. Does the loss of IE cause any trouble?

Restin,

No, you don't want to uninstall IE! You can't really do that anyway, without specialized software and technical know-how. MSFT has imbedded it so firmly into the operating system that it's near-impossible to do. You can roll back to a previous version, but uninstalling it completely is a pretty tough chore. Anyway, you'd want to leave it installed in case you run into a page that needs IE to function, and/or to do Windows Update.

The thing to do is to download & install one of the alternate browsers/e-mail clients, and when they ask if you want to set them as the default applications, say "Yes." IE/OE will still be installed, but you just won't use them, or will use them rarely.

* That said, it also needs to be added that after having switched away from IE and OE, if MSFT comes out with security patches for IE and OE, you should still download & install the patches ('critical updates'). Since they're so tightly integrated with the operating system, they can introduce liabilities even if they're not the default applications being used. So it's important to keep them patched, even when they aren't being used.

That might not make a whole lot of sense to you, but such is the Wonderful World of Microsoft. ;-)

Hi everyone,

If you want to make your computer more secure you can get a free firewall from "Sygate technologies" on the net. Alternatively you can check just how secure your computer is by Going to the "Shields Up" website and have them probe your ports for leaks. I did both. I had my ports checked first and found that even with Microsoft XP firewall activated one of my ports was still open. After I downloaded and installed the Sygate Firewall, I had my ports probed again. 100% stealthed no leaks. I left the XP firewall on as well so I am running two firewalls. I still use Microsoft Explorer and Outlook Express.

Shelley

Yep, Sygate's a good firewall, one the best. I'd turn off the Windows firewall if you have Sygate installed, though; running two firewalls at the same time can cause problems.

Just what problems is everyone having with IE? I have been using it for years and have not had any problems.

Read those articles linked above, Avalee. Using IE nowadays is like leaving home with the doors unlocked. Maybe nobody will take advantage, but maybe somebody will.

I've been saying that for years, but things have now gotten bad enough to where the mainstream of the tech writing community is saying it too.

All of the browsers have problems. Here is one that happened recently with: Mozilla

One person writes on the thread there:

quote:

---

It seems pretty obvious that Mozilla.org knew this was a potential security hole as of 2002-09-09. Naturally, I'm glad that it was fixed so quickly after a specific exploit was released, but if this was MS and they knew about a problem for almost two years and did nothing, we all know what would be all over the front page of slashdot right now.

---

Microsoft gained over 90% of the browser market with a superior product and aggressive (perhaps illegal) marketing program.

One reason Internet Explorer gets hit hard by hackers, is precisely for this reason that over 90% of the internet users in the world use it.

For professionals or serious hobbyists, there may be merit in using non-Microsoft browsers, but for average people, there is no impelling need to switch.

I use the ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall.

I also use Norton AntiVirus.