US Gov't: "IE is bad, m'kay?"

http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3374931

I am so glad I use FireFox. I will now proceed to uninstall Avast... the last thing on my PC that convices me to use IE at all unless I absolutely have to (Windows Update, MSIE-only sites).

 

Agreed. In the past it was only the nasty sites that you had to avoid to save yourself from getting nasties on your machine. The solution was simple.. stay away from warez and porn.. Now with popular and otherwise innocuous sites being the unwilling source of attacks, it is wise to move away from IE until MS gets their stuff together and fixes IE completely or rebuilds it entirely.

I like FireFox. I'm eager to see its' future incarnations.

For those of you still using IE.. it would be wise to find an alternative. This is coming from an IE user from DAY 1...

 

da chicken. I cannot understand this " I will now proceed to uninstall Avast... ". Please advise us why, or do I misread your post? Bazza

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Opera would be my next choice..

 

No, I mis-typed. Should read "Avant," the borwser overlay. I have no problem with Avast! Antivirus.

 

Thanks d_c, had me thoroughly confused and worried. Easy to do at this hour of the morning here in OZ. Just recently installed Avast and am also happy with it. Baz

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I'm also 'adjusting' to switching from MyIE2 to FF. I've been able to use Extensions to achieve most of the features I liked in MyIE2, and have found workarounds for those that can't be duplicated yet. The more I use it the more I like it, and new Extensions are being added all the time. IMO it's a small price to pay for the security benefits gained.

It seems like a lot of us are in the same boat having switched around the same time. Just a thought: with all the great minds on this board I'd like to see us pool our knowledge and become FF experts And for those of us who make a few bucks on the side this is a great opportunity to switch people to a secure alternative browser.

 

same here Alanc.. I have FF up to about 95% of what I wanted and now I have other features (via extensions) that just make it much more valuable to me as a browser. There's something to be said for simplicity..

 

Gmail works fine with firefox for me..........

 

if Ive got all them antivir, spybot, spyblaster, firewall thingys, are you saying I'm still not 'safe'??? aloha

 

abbey sue et al , so what am i in danger from? and isnt there a way to guard against it? aloha

 

Ahahahaha... That means I'll actually have to make an effort to make our websites work with ALL browsers... not just IE. This should be good, as if the "new" ones support HTML/XHTML correctly (unlike IE) then it shouldnt be a problem. IE was most of the problem in the first place with its weird support of certain featuers.

Firefox has some bugs too.. not least some weird things happen when using writable Iframes (which we use quite a lot in our websites for WYSIWYG editing on a web page (wanna know how? NOT TELLING )

And also, yes, you are still at risk because IE is very exploited. The way to guard against it is to NOT use IE

 

When I go to my gmail with FF the page is split down the middle with gmail on one side and last page visited on the other.
So far all other sites use whole page.
How do i fix that?

 

I'd like to add a stupid question here. Is MyIE2 just as unsecure as IE? I really like MyIE2 but should I consider switching to FF?

 

so.....i just rang MS to ask them their thoughts on this. there was a 50 minute wait on their security line (it doesn't bode well, does it!) but that has given me a chance to come back here and ask some questions. i am going to ring again tomorrow morning (my morning!) and hope i get a less busy period. before then i would like a list of security issues that occur with IE that the normal precautions do not cover. i will post their reply. PS. please try to simplify. much aloha Laurie

 

Tabbrowser Extensions lets you size tabs down to whatever amount of pixels you want them wide. make sure you enable advanced options, then go to the tabs menu and edit the information inside the "Width of tabs" box.

You can remove the 2nd toolbar (the one below the address toolbar) by unchecking it in toolbars -> bookmarks toolbar. You can just move all of it's icons to the address toolbar.

I had some trouble with adblock, so I finally decided to use a nightly build (of adblock, not firefox). I'm running on nightly build 39 and it is working perfectly.

I'm not sure about mouse trails, but you can disable annoying window resizing, etc, in tools -> options -> web features -> click the advanced button.

Try Allow Right-Click

Firefox comes with pop-up blocking, but more are getting through in the .9 release. I'm not sure what to do here.

There's only one way I know of, and that's to view the source and find the flash file in it.

I don't think there is one, but someone might decide to make some sort of spellcheck extention. You might want to try Dictionary Search or one of the Mycroft dictionary search plugins. With the Mycroft plugins you have to paste it in the search box next to the address bar, and it can only handle one word at a time. The Dictionary Search plugin can only handle one word at a time also.

I'm not sure what you're asking here...

Tabbrowser Extensions can save tab sessions for later viewing.

Did you try the extention's options found in the extentions window -> the little check mark next to it?

 

MyIE2 uses the IE engine so it is essentially IE.. so ,yes it is as insecure.

 

spellbound for firefox .9
http://amuck.ath.cx/

 

To add to flea's great info

There is an extension called Session Saver that claims to be able to do that. I have it installed but am not using it cuz I'm still exploring all the tabbrowser extension options as I find time.

I found installing multiple extensions at once (unless they're really simple ones) can get confusing at first, especially if there's overlapping functionality. For me installing one or two and then getting familiar with them helps me keep things straight.

LOL, I'll certainly share what I've learned so far. Maybe a sticky thread for FF questions and answers would help us all?

Right-click anywhere on the googlebar and you can deselect what you don't want displayed.


A little off topic: There is a great extension called Nuke Anything which adds a 'Remove this object' to the right-click context menu. Perfect for killing those annoying flashing ads on websites or scary looking photochops in the Lounge at MG

 

In tabbrower extention's preferences window, go to advanced use, and check the "Input from the location bar" and the "results of the search bar" checkboxes.

Put all your icons in the top bar. The location bar acts like a flexible space and resizes itsself whenever something new is put on the bar.

You can find the adblock nightly builds here. I find that page kind of annoying because of the light colored text, so if you want to directly download the nightly build, click here.

I don't know how to fix the annoying scrolling problem.

 

The Google toollbar can be viewed or hidden through the "View" button in the top toolbar as needed.

 

bah... internet surfing is getting more and more complicated... i'm stubborn when it comes to switching things i'm accustomed to... i'm keeping my Internet Explorer, i'll take whatever comes my way...

 

I had my doubts, and it plays nice with my GhostSurf, unlike IE. I also went to Thunderbird. It does a lot more than OE also. It must be galling for Gates to see a group of amateurs in their free time produce a product superior to the ones developed by his highly educated (and highly paid) software engineers.

 

Outlook Express works ok with me running Firefox. I don't understand why you say it's crap. Once you download the extensions you want it is security safer than IE for now. I still have it installed, but not my default.

Task Manager works fine for me too.

 

You won't get much of anything from a phone tech.

Nothing you haven't heard here anyway. So don't put too much effort into it.

A lot of those PC security people are temps anyway.

Their job is fix whats broken, like any tech support.

Their definition of prevention is firewall/antivirus.

Thats it.

They don't know anything we don't know--chances are, less.

 

All talk, no proof, no examples, no documentation.

*Yawn*

^^^

I stole that from MA

*Ducks to avoid the ban stick*



Regarding those overlay browsers, do you feel safer, masking the problems? Because they are still there.

 

i still dont understand what the security issues are. if i have firewalls and antivirus what else can 'get in'? (ps. i do not do money transactions online. at no time have i ever entered either my ss# or my debit card#. i have no credit anyway......im i still in danger from 'something'?) aloha

 

YES!!!!
You don't have to visit banking sites to be affected. You won't even know which sites are vulnerable . It is a virtual uknown as to where and when. This affects the browser through port 80 which is wide open.

 

I still like Opera, I think it is fast and seems to be pretty secure, I am supposedly behind a pretty good firewall from my wireless provider (neighbour) and Linksys. Haven't had anything get through and I love the Avast! AV. Tried the "click with the scroll wheel" that AbbySue had mentioned, pleased to see it worked with this. When I stop being so cheap, I will pay for Opera and get rid of the toolbar or maybe fix my bigger monitor(still pink..!). IE - pah!

 

...another recent ff convert here


this should be a sticky thread in 'spyware specific' forum...heh

 

The only thing I use IE for is the Microsoft Update.
Been using Firefox 0.8 for about 3 months, and I love it.
Since making the change, I have had no problems with spyware.
Prior to going to Firefox, dumping spyware was a weekly hastle.

 

FYI FireFox is on v0.92 as is pretty darn stable for me and many others.

 

just be discussuing this and netscape came up ,i notice no one has mentioned it is it any good ???

 

Another vote for Firefox. Faster & far more secure than IE. The 99% reduction in spyware detection was an eye-opening experience. I have serious issues with companies loading things on my PC with neither my permission not monetary reimbursement. Anything I can do to prevent this is worth the effort & Mozilla is contributing to a solution - not to mention offering such a superior product for free.

 

Dude what have you been smoking?

How about you sticking to the facts?

Read the threads in this forum about how great an alternative to IE that FF is.

Visit the Spyware Specific forum and read about the nightmares users are having with spyware/hijackers because IE/ActiveX is such a huge security risk and open invitation to scumware authors to invade any machine it's used on (WITHOUT the users permission).

Yes MS has a right to define IE, and users have a right to dump it for something better and more secure. The client/customer relationship doesn't extend to a user securing his/her machine from harm. Should we not use an antivirus just because MS doesn't include one with Windows? Should we be forced to use IE simply because it is integrated into the OS?

Get real

 

See, there's your problem, MA. You're expecting people to stop visiting porn sites.

Essentially, IE is not designed for a real-world average user. I run SpywareBlaster, Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, Spyware Guard, and up-to-date antivirus that updates daily at 3 am and scans daily at 4 am. My primary browser is FF, which is configured to deny all cookies from third-party web sites. My version of Windows is up-to-date, as are my application software and drivers. I use a software firewall, and I am connected to a home router (soon to be replaced by an OpenBSD router).

Recently, I've stopped using Ad Aware and Spybot active scans more than weekly because they haven't found any hits in about 6 months. Not even a cookie. Not even a cookie crumb.

Even if I go to porn sites.

I am not an average user.

 

Great discussion going here. The major issue, in my opinion, is how much control you have over your personal asset. The driving factor behind spyware programs is $$$$$$. Your browsing habits constitute valuable information to marketing firms. It is human nature to be less than truthful in any telephone or person-to-person survey. With spyware, market research companies basically get the "unvarnished" truth & pay millions of dollars for that information. Has any company placing this spyware on your PC offered you a cut?

They are using your equipment & your internet connection (paid by you!) to make money for themselves. Further, you get enough of this "crap" on your machine & performance is signifigantly downgraded.

One more point - is anyone with more than a room temperature IQ naive enough to not see a relationship between the massive increase in identity theft & the growth in personal ownership of internet-connected PC's?

Slim

 

Knowledge is power. It's obvious that the US gov't is not going to take the necessary steps to solve the issue. Not to get too political (G_d help me) but I thought Roe established the constitutional right to privacy. I guess it is too much to expect these cowards to take a stand or show courage in their convictions.

Slim

 

Uncle Sam can't fix this, If you don't trust IE, go to Mozilla or even Netscape. Stick with IE if you believe the benefits outweigh any security risks. There are alternatives to choose from, it's not "IE or nothing". A lot of the problem, not all , obviously, is ignorance and stupidity. Unless they pass a law that makes people smarter, or throw out the bill of rights, there's not a lot the govt. can do.

 

I am converted (firefox)http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ,loaded it last night and a few plug-ins. I notice that if you visit a site and you dont have the plug-in loaded that is needed to display a particular action(scrolling text). a prompt appears asking if you wish to download the plug-in to enable the action,which is good.Interface is ok, spent a bit of time reading the user guide which is clear ,and over the next couple of weeks i will configure it to how i want
two questions any must have(favourite) plug-ins.
are there any major compatibity issues with certain programs,files,
cant see me going back now .

 

Must have plugins:
All-in-one Gestures
Tabbrowser Extentions (probably have to google for it)

Other extentions I use:
Adblock
DownloadWith (GetRight)
Web Developer (widgets galore!)
OpenBook (because it annoyed me one time too many)
Sage (RSS reader)
IEView (for websites still stuck in 1999)

 

Or you could switch to Mac OSX and use Safari ^_^

 

I'm sorry. I like to use my system to run programs, not just browse the file structure and the Internet.