Internet Explorer vs. Firefox vs. Opera vs. Safari vs. Chrome

[Tom.K]

5 Browsers, 5 Engines... it's Browser Leading Battle.

Microsoft Internet Explorer (Trident)
Mozilla Firefox (Gecko)
Opera (Presto)
Apple Safari (WebKit)
Google Chrome (WebKit, too)

Vote for browser which you use or you want to use.
It could be nice to give comments or suggest other browsers

None of the browsers are perfect. For me:
Internet Explorer is the most popular and default browser and easy enough to use, but mostly gets exploited and vulnerable.
Mozilla Firefox is fully extensible, but takes a lot of time to load, takes a bit more memory than others.
Opera has all features and made most of features first, but for me, it's unpopular. Why? It was shareware when it had all features which other browsers didn't have then...
Safari actually... looks fine (?)...
Google Chrome is the browser which become so popular and hits the performance up! However, there were a lot of confusion due to privacy which are probably now gone. Still, surprising!

However, what about alternatives?
If you use alternate (or any other) browsers, vote for Alternative/Other Browsers.
Flock - Social Networking Specialization Browser
SeaMonkey - Open Source Internet Suite
K-Meleon - Firefox Alternative, different GUI
Avant Browser - Popular Internet Explorer Alternative Shell
Maxthon - IE Shell with a lot of features
SRWare Iron - Google Chrome alternative without any problems at privacy

I hope that poll gets some votes and that some new browser by someone very popular won't popup all of sudden...

[Zenobia]

Firefox is my favorite.
It's a bit fussy sometimes,but I think I like that.

[bitman]

Though for my job I am forced to use additional browsers on occasion for testing against our own web applications, I normally prefer to have no other browser installed than Internet Explorer 8.

The simple reason is that adding another browser to a PC simply adds potential vulnerabilities and provides absolutely no additional protection whatsoever, this is a fallacy created within the mythology of computing generated by the masses who perpetuate the myth.

The reality is that the reason Firefox makes a PC 'safer' is because the user in front of the keyboard can not accept certain potentially dangerous downloads such as ActiveX, since the browser simply doesn't support them and which though often necessary for some important uses, can also contain malware.

The deeper reality is that by ignoring the maintenance of Internet Explorer and in fact the entire PC, these same users often leave themselves wide open for malware that take advantage of any of these entry points, whether operating system or application based attacks. In fact, some of the exploits actually occur simply because the user chooses to accept a download (socially engineered malware) and results in the compromise of the browser as well, upon which the blame is incorrectly laid.

An example of the depth of this fallacy is shown by the results of independent testing of several of the most popular web browsers security, regularly performed by NSS Labs.

http://nsslabs.com/browser-security

Note that though Internet Explorer 8 beat Firefox by a small amount in the Phishing tests, it was statisically a tie due to the margin of error. However, none of the other browsers were really even a close third, which is surprising since two of them use some of the same 'back-end' information sources as Firefox, so their implimentations are somehow not as effective.

On the other hand, in the Socially Engineered Malware testing, Internet Explorer 8 left the other browsers completely in the dust. This is in large part a result of the efforts Microsoft is placing in their SmartScreen technology.

So it's really time to stop helping to perpetuate the myths and start looking for real solid test results that support the claims being made. I understand that these are difficult to find, since so much of the 'known' information out there is simply conjecture and belief (mythology), but it's time that those with a brain began to use them.

Bitman

[Matt]

Firefox is my favorite as well.
There are lots of reason, why I use Firefox, but I think that there is no need to talk about them now.

I'll never use a browser only because a test "tells" me that browser#1 is better than browser#2.

The best protection against Malware is your own, right behavio(u)r in the internet.
Moreover, you can configure almost every browser in a way that surfing is faster & safer.

[Tom.K]

So it's really time to stop helping to perpetuate the myths and start looking for real solid test results that support the claims being made. I understand that these are difficult to find, since so much of the 'known' information out there is simply conjecture and belief (mythology), but it's time that those with a brain began to use them.
Bitman

You mean, this: http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html?

[bitman]

Matt,

Though all of your comments are correct and make sense for a relatively skilled and technical individual, they tend to break down in the hands of the more typical Internet user. That's why I look for test results that show how well a browser protects its user in relatively real world scenarios, since this is what the home user will experience in day-to-day use.

I'm not particularly limiting my comments to my own use here, since I can still protect myself when using a much less secure browser such as IE 6, but as we both know that's a relatively pontless pursuit with the much more secure browsers currently available.

You are also quite obviously correct that "your own, right behaviour in the Internet" is important. However, again the typical home user either doesn't know this or simply doesn't care (think children). So again, when commenting on this in security forums I clearly state that what's right for you and me is probably not best for everyone. You must always remember that a thread such as this will be cited by 14 year-olds everywhere as the absolute truth for years to come, so I try to approach that in my own comments.

Tom,

No, that's a myth debunking site, which is attempting to be the opposite of the mythology itself and provide a sanity check. Though valid in it's purpose, it isn't purporting to perform any validated testing to provide the information, only citing many reputable references as support for their counter-claims to common myths.

This is part of the problem, since most users can't differentiate tested, validated fact from myth or the arguments about such. That's why I pointed out a true test result, done in a scientific manner and presented in a clear, concise format along with the highly important explanation of the testing methodolgy. This last part is often ommitted by those wishing to distort the results or simply not competent to perform such testing in the first place.

Remember, I'm not trying to tell you that you are wrong to use or trust the current version of Firefox, only that it's best to first understand that adding any alternate browser to your PC simply increases risk. For most it would be best to simply use and properly patch and upgrade to Internet Explorer 8, since that will provide them with the easiest to maintain browser with a [current] Windows operating system.

Bitman

[Matt]

Hi bitman,

Though all of your comments are correct and make sense for a relatively skilled and technical individual, they tend to break down in the hands of the more typical Internet user. That's why I look for test results that show how well a browser protects its user in relatively real world scenarios, since this is what the home user will experience in day-to-day use.

I'm not particularly limiting my comments to my own use here, since I can still protect myself when using a much less secure browser such as IE 6, but as we both know that's a relatively pontless pursuit with the much more secure browsers currently available.

You are also quite obviously correct that "your own, right behaviour in the Internet" is important. However, again the typical home user either doesn't know this or simply doesn't care (think children).

I agree with everything, you've said. I want to add only some thoughts.

As you know at least as good as I do, lots of your "typical internet users" were, are and will be infected with Malware, because they do some of the following things again and again (only some examples):

• Downloading & using cracks, keygens & co
• Clicking on every pop-up, link in emails etc.
• Don't understand to have security tools installed on the computer
• Downloading music and videos over P2P programs

These guys aren't alive to the importance of such facts. Moreover, if you can convince these guys to stop such "stupid" manners, you could help much more people instead of telling them which internet browser they should use or not. The first step against Malware is the prevention. After the user knows, which dangers are "waiting" in the internet, he/she can choose the tools he/she like. The user will be infected with every browser if he/she doesn't change his/her behavio(u)r.

All in all, I accept your intentions, but it's much more like choosing the "right" browser. I know you are aware of this fact.

[bitman]

Yes Matt, I completely agree that the problem goes much deeper than which browser is chosen, though that is still the most common application in use when something malicious is accepted by the user.

This is why I am recommending IE 8 here, since it at least attempts to inform the user that the decision they are making is a bad one. Most of the others are still back on Phishing, which while it's still necessary doesn't cover the breadth of the issues that curently exist in the browsing landscape.

IE 8 alone will never stop all of the issues, nor will any single point solution, but within the scope of this particular thread I've stated why I believe that Internet Explorer 8 is the best choice for most users. I'm of course totally ignoring any other reasons you might choose another browser, since this is primarily a security forum and so that's what most are coming here to understand.

I also completely agree that the best solution is an educated user, but this will take decades to occur since most of the older generations will never get the education they require. Even some of the younger users are learning bad habits, which is why I believe that a browser that takes this into account has a better chance of reducing the chance of malware infection, even if it can't really stop all of them.

That's why I feel it's so important to dispel the myths, since these simply contribute to the bad behaviour since they make people assume they can "get away with it". Exposing the myths is at least as important as the general education of users, since these are also 'learning', albeit in a negative sense.

The core mistake here is to perpetuate the idea that Internet Explorer is somehow less secure, which is patently untrue. This is bad even when the fanboys do it, but far worse when we let it slip by un-challenged in a security forum.

Do you now see where my primary concern with this thread lies?

Bitman

[129260]

that I let any unknowable computer user know is this:

When it comes to the Internet, nothing is secure. This is why no matter how patched you are, how knowledgeable you are, nothing will protect you from someone who wants your data. It's as simple as that. That's why when using the Internet, you should not give any information that you would not want someone else to know. Security itself is the real "myth". The best thing for a user to do, is to get knowledge, and try there best not to share anything on the internet that they wouldn't want someone else to know. If you do not share this information, there is no way to get it. Unless the person knows where the user is. Now please understand, in no way am I saying that securing your computer is worthless, or getting knowledge is worthless; I am just simply saying that computers will always be insecure. There is no stopping that. There always is/will be a loophole to everything. I am enjoying reading this thread, as both bitman's and Matt's opinion are interesting to me. I enjoy learning and reading them. I just thought I would point this out.

[Matt]

I am enjoying reading this thread, as both bitman's and Matt's opinion are interesting to me. I enjoy learning and reading them.

Do you now see where my primary concern with this thread lies?

I do.
This thread ends for me now. I've to "work" on other things (according to Malware).