If you are reading this then you are using a browser to do it. The most well known browser is Microsoft's
but it is not the only one available. To misquote George Orwell, "Not all browsers are equal and some are less equal than others". So why does it matter? Surely you can use any browser you like to view any web page?
Coach and Horses Time!
Unfortunately, the most common browser (and probably the one you are using right now) is also the least secure. Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) has a number of defects that allow all sorts of rubbish to be deposited on your computer without your knowledge. The nastiest feature of IE6 is something called "ActiveX" which is used by many Microsoft programs to pass information around. Unfortunately it means that anyone who knows how can use the ActiveX feature of IE6 to access your computer.
It doesn't matter about firewalls or antivirus software. ActiveX can allow a "coach and horses" to be driven through your computer's security.
The fixes
The fixes are simple:
- Turn off ActiveX features. This is done by starting up IE6, clicking on Tools in the menu bar at the top followed by Internet Options. Then click on the Security tab, click on the Internet icon (top left) then click the Custom Level button (bottom right). Ensure that all ActiveX options are set to Disable or Prompt.
- Use a different web browser.
Obviously option 2 is a lot simpler. If you want to use a different web browser then the 3 candidates for a Windows PC are
- Firefox
- Opera
- Netscape
Using any of these browsers will enhance your security simply because none of them have ActiveX controls. This is a "Microsoft-only" technology and it is very rarely used on the web. Firefox and Opera are generally considered to be the best alternatives
Installing Firefox
The Firefox browser is incredibly simple to install. Go to
http://www.mozilla.org and click on the "Download Firefox" button and the browser will download, copy all your IE6 settings and be ready for use straight away - you don't even need to restart your PC! One "annoying" feature that you need to get used to is that Firefox will NOT automatically open a file from a website. Any files are downloaded and then YOU are asked "Do you want me to open this?". This simple feature removes another security hole - automatic installs that do not ask you for permission and just happen in the background.
Making Things Easier
Another great feature of Firefox and Opera is "tabbed windows". With IE6 if you are working on something and need two browser windows then you wind up with two items in the Start bar at the bottom of your screen. With Firefox and Opera you can open additional "tabs" similar to those in Excel spreadsheets. This means that there is only one browser item on the start bar.
"So what?" you say.
Suppose you need, temporarily, to do a completely different task on the internet. With Firefox and Opera you can open a new browser session and use the tabs to keep everything related to the new session in one convenient place. It is rumoured that IE7 will have tabbed browsing but Firefox and Opera are both available now and both already have tabbed browsing.
Recommendation
Simply switching your browser away from Internet Explorer could make a significant difference to your computer's security. The forthcoming Internet Explorer 7 will have improved security and should feature "tabbed browsing" but both Firefox and Opera offer these feature already and both are available and are in use by millions of computer users.
Links to resources in this article
Firefox
Opera
Netscape
