Firefox explorer? I want some info on it before I download it...?

Question

What are some of the benifits of it compaired to IE?

Do I have to download it with the google toolbar?

Will it really be faster?

Is it really safer?

WIll it affect any other program I have on my computer?

I really am sick of IE. I am tired of the "encountered a problem, needs to close" I want something better.

Any adive would be greatly appriciated!

I have IE6 by the way..

Answer 1

Take it from the professionals, IE is the least safest browser to be using:

United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team:
"There are a number of significant vulnerabilities in technologies related to the IE domain/zone...It is possible to reduce exposure to these vulnerabilities by using a different web browser"
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/713878

PcWorld Magazine:
"...a virtual engraved invitation to hackers and other digital delinquents, Internet Explorer 6.x might be the least secure software on the planet"
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,125772-page,3/article.html

IE6 & 7 has features that rely on ActiveX to work properly; here is what Microsoft had to say about it's own ActiveX

From Microsoft:
"An ActiveX control can be an extremely insecure way to provide a feature...From the moment a user downloads an ActiveX control, the control may be vulnerable to attack because..."
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/components/activex/security.asp
(Firefox doesn't use ActiveX)

All these reviewers say that Firefox is an all around better browser
Cnet
PC world
Wall Street Journal
Computerworld
http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2006/10/GraphBrowser.jpg

Here is their security record side by side:
http://www.webdevout.net/security_summary.php#vulnerabilities
You will learn that no browser is perfect, but IE is the least secure browser you can be using

If you download it directly from Firefox's official website you won't get the google toolbar (I hate that %^$@# google toolbar)
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

It will NOT effect any other program on your computer

In my opinion, it's faster

IE 6 & 7 support web standards very poorly
Compare the results of the web standards test using Firefox and IE:
http://www.webstandards.org/files/acid2/test.html
Notice that IE shows the image absolutely HORRIBLE while FF, though not perfect, displays it much better.

Answer 2

I highly suggest that you go ahead and leave Internet Explorer, at least until it gets some features that it sorely needs.

The big main feature that Firefox has is that it has an extensive "add-on" library, filled with a lot of user-written plug-ins that can be as simple as a weather watching clock to a program that causes things to load faster. The tab system in Firefox is much easier to use compared to IE7 as well.

The Google Toolbar is built-in, but it's not just a Google toolbar. There's a slew of search engines that you can change it to, and I think that even more can be added.

As for it being faster, I believe that it is, but it's really so small a difference that it won't really make that much of a difference.

As for safer, there's some things built-in, like a better pop-up blocker, that can help. There's an add-on, I can't remember the name, but I'm sure that you can find it, that allows Firefox to check the integrity of a site based on a large list, and will alert you if this site has a bad rating.

It will not affect anything. If you make it the default browser, then it will open all internet files instead of Internet Explorer, but that's really it.

Also, if you are looking into changing browsers, I suggest that you also check out Opera. I have noticed a speed difference with Opera, but it comes at a price. Opera tends to used cached images (images that are downloaded onto your computer to help the page load faster) but it tends to get annoying when you are trying to see if a page has been updated and it shows you the old version. It's easy to fix, but is one of its flaws.

As for its main strongpoint, Opera allows "mouse gestures" to control view. For example, as opposed to hitting the back button all the time, you can simply right-click then left-click in succession. It can be annoying while you are still learning, but after you get the idea, it becomes second nature.

Opera also has widgets. If you've ever used Yahoo! Widgets, it's very similar. They are small programs that can open up in front of your browser, and can be very varied. There's a Tetris one going around somewhere, and there's others that can tell you valuable information.

I hope that I've been of help to you.

Answer 3

Firefox is a great alternative browser to Internet Explorer. You don't have to download it with google toolbar. It's optional. As for speed, I think it's about the same as Internet Explorer. It is definitely safer (You have more control over how the browser behaves). It shouldn't affect any of your computers programs (Even Internet Explorer will still work just as before). I downloaded and used firefox because I too was getting sick of IE and it's constant "Internet Explorer has encountered an error and needs to close, would you like to send an error report to Microsoft, yada yada yada). I found that firefox ran smoother, less errors, and it generally could display the same web pages as IE. It's a great browser.

Answer 4

The problems you were having with IE will mostly be solved in Firefox browser.

Because:
1. It is better and faster
2. More secure
3. Easy to operate
4. Spell checking option.

Only con is it might eat up more memory resource than other browsers do. But its still ok.

It is not supposed to affect any other program on your PC.

Read the reviews:
http://www.download.com/Mozilla-Firefox/3000-2356_4-10620330.html?tag=lst-6-1

Answer 5

firefox explorer? lol hybrid!

What are some of the benifits of it compaired to IE? none

Will it really be faster? absolutely not, opposite

Is it really safer? well they say its safer, microsoft says theirs is safer, most people say firefox is safer, but then again most people are stupid too, so who really knows. IE makes it much ezier to manage security settings imo and thus can keep you safer

WIll it affect any other program I have on my computer? no

Answer 6

u dont need to downlaod google toolbar. are u using IE 6 or 7? i used firefox, but i liked IE 7 much better. they are more secured than firefox and i did not had too much of the "encountered a problem" error.

Answer 7

Get Firefox you won't be dissapointed! Its much safer than IE...but remember no software is 100% safe.
Get the Adblock Plus, No-Scripts and Site advisor extensions and you be extremley safer than with IE

Answer 8

It is infinetly safer than IE and is more stable. There is an option inside it to view pages as if you were actually using IE so that there won't be any discrepancies in viewing a page designed specifically for IE. Get it!

Answer 9

firefox as it is now was never better. It is a good companion to IE7 (I am not saying replacement)

Answer 10

its not faster, but it is safer, and its not as user friendly,
i have it, but dun use it much, im too used to ie.