The browser wars are here - with big players like Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox fighting tooth-and-nail for marketshare.
The good news is that users are benefiting from the fight, with vendors using new security features as differentiators in an attempt to make you switch your browser.
And there's good reason for you to be pleased that browsers are tackling security problems, as so much of today's malware is delivered via the web, or has a web-based component.
So, here's the question - if one of your friends or family had suffered a computer security problem, what browser would you recommend that they use? What's your preferred browser security-wise?
And don't just make your vote - tell us why you made your choice by leaving a comment below.
Thanks for sharing your point of view!
It's my main choice on Windows, Mac and Ubuntu, but in Android (ICS), it's not fitting the bill yet, especially since it still not working properly with the non-english keyboard dock of my Asus Transformer, so I juggle between Browser, Opera and Chrome.
The Tracking Protection lists of IE help me block all of the above analytics easily:
http://www.iegallery.com/en-us/trackingprotectionlists
On average, IE 9 is ever so slightly slower than Chrome (v22.0.1229.26 Beta) i.e. 136 ms in the Sunspider JavaScript benchmark compared to 135 ms for Chrome. IE 10, 64 bit beats both at 118 ms (when tested on the same hardware via a dual boot).
However, for me in general use all of the above browsers are very snappy.
Thanks.
It used to be firefox, but its update mechanism is buggy leading to browser not being properly updated with security fixes, which in 2012 is unacceptable. Additionally, firefox lacks sandboxing, and this is also major drawback from security standpoint.
IE is quite secure, but functionally speaking I tend to always encounter problems that force me to use another browser. And its settings are so horrible, e.g. try disabling Java for a good laugh.
You can't rely on just one browser anymore!
I use a few but Firefox gets my vote for flexibility if only because of the wide range of add-ons available but the frequent (supposedly) major upgrades drive me mad because language packs don't upgrade automatically and don't have the flexibility to support multiple major versions.
On my Mac I use Safari more than Firefox. It has a great built in feed reader.
NoScript
AdBlock Plus
Better Privacy
HTTPS Everywhere
DoNotTrackPlus
Ghostery
Admittedly some of these Add-ons are available on Chrome as extensions. However, the reality is that if you want to be more private online Chrome is in essence a very fast, lightweight and reliable Google Analytics tool for your browsing habits.
After using Chrome for many years I decided to return back to Firefox. It\'s all about the security and privacy Add-ons that at least make me feel more secure online:
NoScript
AdBlock Plus
Better Privacy
HTTPS Everywhere
DoNotTrackPlus
Ghostery
Admittedly some of these Add-ons are available on Chrome as extensions. However, the reality is that if you want to increase your privacy online Chrome is in essence a very fast, lightweight and reliable Google Analytics tool for your browsing habits.
Security-wise, I just feel safer with Firefox, with it's wide variety of security related plug-ins that are pretty straight forward to use.
Chrome just feels like an empty shell when using it; it just feels like there is no substance. And as posted below, it's a great way for google to keep tabs on you (he says, while having a gmail account...).
I haven't used Safari or Opera for quite a while now, but when I have FF running with the addons I like, I don't see a need to change just yet, and I hate installing programmes on my computer just for the sake of it.