Improve Your Web Browser For Free!

slasher

spook wrote:

Worth bearing in mind that one of the most important advantages of Firefox is improved security. Not only is it less buggy than IE, but because it's "open source" software, bugs are found and fixed much more quickly because anybody can contribute to the code.

That's not the case for Avant Browser, which to the best of my knowledge is based on IE components with a few added interface features. So it doesn't offer any security advantage over IE.

Avant Browser isn't open source but it does benefit from 100% compatibility with all websites as it does indeed use the IE engine to process the web pages, however security is much better as you can turn on/off popups, adverts, flash, activex, java, etc,etc, at a click of a single button.

For example most of the time I browse the net with pop-ups blocked, adverts blocked, activex blocked, java applets blocked, and usually flash blocked!

I work in IT for a living so I guess I'm more security savvy than most, but there are other free choices equally as good as Firefox, particularly if you want lots of features like tabbed browsing, ad blocking, rss feeds, etc. out of the box

claire.rogers22

I might be being really stupid here but I have just download firefox for OSX but when i try to install it the mac opens stuffit but an error message come up saying download.mozilla.org is not compressed how on earth do you install this thing!!! Please help!!!!!

bennyvdb

claire.rogers22 wrote:

I might be being really stupid here but I have just download firefox for OSX but when i try to install it the mac opens stuffit but an error message come up saying download.mozilla.org is not compressed how on earth do you install this thing!!! Please help!!!!!

They are talking PCs dear, not Macs!

claire.rogers22

bennyvdb wrote:

They are talking PCs dear, not Macs!

But you can get it for macs as well as I have downloaded the version for OSX and followed instructions to install but had no success.
Thanks anyway

CopperPlate_2

At last! Firefox Rules.

Sim_2

I have been a convert for some months now - but a word of warning some sites will only work with IE/Netscape, so keep a copy on your PC. An example from is the Portland Direct Holiday site, you can browse with Firefox but if you want your holiday cost calculating you will need to use IE.

Sim

busterkeye

just one question (for now)

I have startted using firefox as from seeing this thread and quite like it but when ever I click a short cut on my desktop for instance it reuses the same window, so then I have to press back button open another firefox window then click the link

anyone know how to stop it from doing this?

jennyjelly

I've been using Mozilla Firefox for several months now and it may be my imagination but I'm sure we've had less virus and adware problems than we used to have with IE. My son thinks it's because most malware is configured to attach itself to OE, but he may just be trying to sound clever!

My only problem is listing items for sale on ebay, which I can't do with Firefox, so I keep OE just for that. If anyone knows how to get round this I could ditch OE completely.

BTW, I only just registered with MSE today, so please be forgiving if I'm repeating what someone else has already posted!

Art_2

jennyjelly wrote:

I've been using Mozilla Firefox for several months now and it may be my imagination but I'm sure we've had less virus and adware problems than we used to have with IE. My son thinks it's because most malware is configured to attach itself to OE, but he may just be trying to sound clever!

My only problem is listing items for sale on ebay, which I can't do with Firefox, so I keep OE just for that. If anyone knows how to get round this I could ditch OE completely.

BTW, I only just registered with MSE today, so please be forgiving if I'm repeating what someone else has already posted!

Welcome to MSE!!!

Your son is possibly right. You will find a lot less dross on browsers that are not IE. Over 90% of people use IE and most virus and adware problems seem aimed at it. This doesn't mean that you should not always have an up-to-date antivirus programme on your computer as well as programmes such as Spybot and AdAware.

I currently use Netscape 7.2 and have no problem with EBay. Their helpline is very good and if you continue to have problems send them an email.

Regards,
Art.

jennyjelly

Art wrote:

I currently use Netscape 7.2 and have no problem with EBay. Their helpline is very good and if you continue to have problems send them an email.

Sorry, I'm very untechnical and need things explained in very small words and veeerrry sloowwlly!

Is Netscape 7.2 a browser or an ISP? I know it used to be an ISP because we were with them before they were absorbed by the great AOL. If it's your ISP, maybe it's because I'm with Tiscali that I'm having a problem, in other words maybe IE + Tiscali = ebay ok, Firefox + Tiscali = ebay not ok.

I'm not too keen to change ISP as I'm quite happy with mine in all other respects, but as I'm one of those sad people who needs their ebay fix I may have to if I'm to ditch the dreadful IE.

Thanks for the nice welcome by the way!