why is firefox more secure?

[d0ppy]

Well.... I have chosen firefox for a long time, but then again... I'm a Linux user... so IE isn't really a viable option....


But in all honesty, the security of both is completely up to you... SSL isn't going to help the person who downloads every attachment.... :P

[!mitationRust]

I'm still learning and catch will correct me where I'm wrong. (from the Brett D. Fleisch publication) If I'm correct this stems from the TOS layered design and ring structure(one type of design): level zero being your innermost core and most secure, and the outermost layer being level eight (untrusted user programs) being least secure. So, with firefox you're getting further away from your security core, and IE is protected by inner layers or rings closer to its core, figuratively speaking? I guess until TOS philosophy is widely adopted and the ideals are applied to lower level systems; like security mechanism education and the likes. I'm afraid we'll continue to see old habits dying hard and more prosy threads like "my system is broke" etc... With an acronym such as the aforementioned, it’s blatantly obvious that we're dealing with deep security, as deep as you can go, you'd think it would be welcomed on a site with the slogan of this one. Sadly, it's eschewed for reasons of silly pride or whatnot or lack of understanding and comprehension .

I wish not to be like all those other poor dullards and choose to think out of the norm.

[whatthe]

http://informationweek.com/story/sho...leID=160900911

There are no magic cures, period.

[ikalo]

I am using IE on poweruser account w2k. After visiting bunch of porn/warez sites I didn't catch any malware.

IE is secure? NO
I'm good in blocking malware? NO
I use Spybot S&D TeaTimer? Yes

My answer on main question in this thread is:
Any app is secure if you know how to secure it, or if you use another security tools with it.

Advice:
Try both IE and Mozilla. See what is easier to use, more confotable. Then decide what you will use in the future. After that, secure your box. How to secure it? try to read security tutorials on AO for example.
No matter what you use for browsing, don't forget AV, patching, firewall, patching, malware scaners, patching, reading security tutorials, patching, not using admin account when browsing, patching, etc.

[GONEin62nd]

Hello!

It is a nice review about SW and SW vulnerabilities in general. It even discuss about different users' reaction on SW they try or use. About the stats on vulnerabilities, I am still on the look-out for it and observe the trends before choosing any SW or tool to use.

Lately, I have UPDATED my XP PRO BOX with SP2. together with the latest Win Security Update, IE is promising especially in blocking popups and other malicious code (I guess). And for Windows, I had installed MS Antispyware and update it and scan my system regularly (usually 3x a week).

Like Ikalo said, every tool or SW's capabilities and security depends on the user. I also use Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D and even use Firefox as my primary browser. I have AVG and ZoneAlarm to finalize my BOXES SW specs. Since I started using Firefox, I haven't got much Malware around. But still the best practice is be updated with news, threats and as much as possible, everything that got to do with the internet and its security.

IE or Firefox, there are certain barrier between the way how I use the 2 browsers. First, I use IE in some sites that are IE friendly. I use Firefox commonly for my browsing since I like it and I explore its capabilities. As far as securing my Windows BOX, it's a tough job especially if other employees use my BOX. I let them use limited account expecially for browsing and try to orient other users on how to properly observe security while surfing the net. I also discourage other co-employees on surfing untrusted sites and even encourage them to update their tools like AV, Anti-malware/spyware, and other security SW and scan their system on a regular basis (mostly weekly).

Most of the things I implement in my SECURITY practice was due to the fact that I read stuff and news about technology and computers (reliable sources). I dig and search for things I would like to know. And AO came in handy whenever I have security issues I suspect in my BOX.

-GONE