props to Mozilla Firefox

[jimmyrules712]

On my bros old computer i used to find hundreds of objects every time i scanend it with ad-aware (every 2 weeks).

Since I installed firefox .9 and told him to use it instead of firefox, i went one month without scaning, and scanned just now to find 12 total objects! amazing the difference!

[mc2phat]

The differnce is most likely the absence of Active X.

[HAL9000]

Funny... I never have any more than that either with IE.... and it's always just tracking cookies... so I hardly see a correlation.

[ric449]

It just depends on what type of surfer you are, if you click anything that comes up then you are in trouble. Oh, and theres always porn and warez sites, you have to be careful if you want to go anywhere near those.

[Redfallon]

I will say, I put firefox on my sister's PC's, and it has reduced the amount of "crap" on them as well. It all depends on how/where you surf I guess.

[aym]

I usually install Firefox for people who are having trouble with search toolbars and homepage hijackers, this always fixes the problem.

[ric449]

I would want to do that to peoples computers, but I would expect a phonecall saying that some websites don't work and they can't play games etc. Firefox is a great browser, but whats holding it back is that it simply is not as compatable as IE. You could argue that this extra compatability of IE is what makes it so insecure, but compatability is what people want.

[doctorgonzo]

Originally Posted by ric449 Firefox is a great browser, but whats holding it back is that it simply is not as compatable as IE. You could argue that this extra compatability of IE is what makes it so insecure, but compatability is what people want.

You could much more accurately argue that website developers who stray from HTML standards to use IE-specific features are the real problem here. Sites that stick with standards generally work just fine in Firefox. It is poor website design to stray from standards; standards exist for a reason.

Besides, even if you install Firefox, IE is still on your system, ready for use. You can even install a Firefox extension called "View this page in IE" that will allow you to right-click on a misbehaving website, and....view that page in IE!

[ric449]

Correct, but it is easier to make a browser that works with sloppy code than teach everyone to use proper standards.

[KoMoDo]

well, i remember having Firebird, and ya, that one had alot of uninstallable plugins, etc... once firefox came out, i installed it, and since then, i never encountered sites that give me a hard time, firefox rox man!
:-P
KoMoDo

[KoMoDo]

-ignore this-

[jong2k4]

The only sites I've ever had trouble with using Firefox are Microsoft Office webfronts.

[aym]

I agree when it comes to compatibility and the normal user, here's what I do to make sure that they'll keep using Firefox, without having problems with some websites:

1) Install Firefox, configure homepage, and make sure it can connect to the Internet (firewall issues), and then set it as the default browser.
2) Install Java and Flash plugins, and make sure they work.
3) Disable annoying JavaScript features (changing statusbar and the like)
4) Ask them about websites they regularly visit, make sure they work well with Firefox, and create links in the bookmarks toolbar.
5) In case one of their websites is severely broken and non-functional with Firefox, I create a shortcut on their desktop that launches IE with that website, and tell them to use it when they want to visit that site.
6) Teach them how to use tabbed browsing, find as you type, and how to open blocked popups.
7) I try to educate them on standards, spyware, and similar stuff.

Not related to Firefox, but I usually install ad-aware, SpyBot, and tell them to update and scan regularly.

[Yuanji]

firefox, adaware, spybot, and spyware blaster are some of the best ways to keep yourself safe from spyware if you use all of them in conjunction.

[KoMoDo]

Originally Posted by Yuanji firefox, adaware, spybot, and spyware blaster are some of the best ways to keep yourself safe from spyware if you use all of them in conjunction.

yep, those are the 3 progs i install on every comp i work at, this one, my bros, my dads (he reformatted like 2 times by now so i reinstalled em everytime) and also, my bros in law brother (heh) had a major slow PC, came over there, dld those 3 progs, taught him how to update, and he was just speechless with the speed difference, ad-aware found 1600 spyware entries (w00t :-P) and spybot found 300 after the ad-aware test, then once i restarted cause spbot asked me to, it found another 96, and then the comp was peaceful again :-P 10x to spywareblaster also, i taught him how to update those 3 progs, and he told me how grateful he was (we actually talked yesterday, thats when he told me).

hehe :-P

KoMoDo