Wednesday, March 16, 2005
A truly HOT fox
This is something juuust important enough to tell as many folks as I reasonably can.
I made the switch to Firefox yesterday and I have NO idea why I didn't do so long ago...it's night and day!!
Not to mention safer...
=====================================
Is Your Web Browser Putting You At Risk?
- By Doug Partridge
© Doug Partridge - All Rights reserved
http://www.secureyourcomputer.net
======================================
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by
approximately 94% of the Internet population. It also
poses an unacceptable security risk. What am I talking
about? If you guessed Internet Explorer, you're right on
the money. So, is your web browser putting you at risk?
If you're one of the 94% using Internet Explorer, the
answer is a definite *yes*. By my math, quite a few
people require critical information for protection.
What's the problem with Internet Explorer (known as "IE"
from here out) and how does it put you at risk?
The main problem with IE is the numerous security flaws.
As an example, between April 2001 and June 2004, Microsoft
documented *153 security flaws* in IE. When a security
flaw is discovered Microsoft releases information about the
flaw and the potential impact. *Usually* at this point
Microsoft provides a downloadable security fix to remedy
the problem. Since many people don't know about the flaw
and the fix, frequently people remain vulnerable for long
periods of time.
Just how serious are some of these security flaws? Some
of the critical security flaws allow attackers to basically
gain control of your computer and run whatever malicious
programs they chose. In many cases, a vulnerable computer
can be compromised just by visiting the wrong website.
Here are but a few of the malicious programs I've seen
loaded on computers through security holes in IE:
* Browser Hijackers. These are programs that do nasty
things like change your home page to another page, usually
something pornographic in nature. They can also install
software and links on your desktop, of course *without*
your permission.==
* Spyware. This is extremely devious and malicious
software, and in many cases, it's used by criminals for
online identity theft. Once it's on your computer, Spyware
sits quietly in the background recording information about
you. Do you shop and bank online? This is one threat to
be extremely concerned about.
What can you do to improve security?
Rather than continue to apply what amounts to "band
aid" security fixes to IE, I recommend a more permanent
solution. Stop letting IE put you at risk, and switch to
another web browser.
How exactly will switching web browsers help? Quite
simply, there are so many security exploits on the Internet
targeted specifically to IE that just by using another
browser, you'll happily avoid most of them.
The good news is that there are several alternative web
browsers available free of charge like Netscape, Mozilla,
Opera and Firefox. For more information a great website to
visit is http://BrowseHappy.com. This website is dedicated
to getting people to switch from IE. It's full of "real
life" stories about why people switched, and what browser
they're using now.
So, what's the best browser of the bunch? Well, it's
highly subjective of course, but my vote goes to ...
Firefox, "Rediscover the Web"
A new browser called Firefox has quickly become my web
browser of choice. First off, Firefox was written to be
"lean and mean" and it certainly delivers. It's faster at
loading web pages than IE and even provides features not
found in IE. Something I suspect will quickly become a
favorite feature is called tabbed browsing. Tabbed
browsing allows you to load multiple web pages in the same
window, and quickly switch between the loaded pages. Tired
of pop-ups? Firefox has the best built-in pop-up blocker
I've seen. I have yet to see a pop-up get past it. When
it comes to security, Firefox receives *high marks*.
Firefox definitely has a positive "buzz" going right now,
and it's easy to see why. If you're interested in trying
out Firefox, you can download it for free here:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
I'll conclude by saying that switching browsers is only
one of several steps necessary to protect yourself from the
many threats on the Internet, but it's certainly a good
place to start. Here's to practicing safe computing.
=====================================
Doug Partridge is co-author of a new eBook, "How to Secure
Your Computer Using Free Tools and Smart Strategies."
"Finally, the step-by-step Internet security guide that
should have come with your Windows computer, but didn't."
Free Details => www.secureyourcomputer.net
======================================
*** Attn Ezine Editors / Site owners ***
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your
ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in
place, do not modify the content and include our resource
box as listed above.
If you do use the material please send us a note at
articles@secureyourcomputer.net Thanks.
© 2004 - www.secureyourcomputer.net
I made the switch to Firefox yesterday and I have NO idea why I didn't do so long ago...it's night and day!!
Not to mention safer...
=====================================
Is Your Web Browser Putting You At Risk?
- By Doug Partridge
© Doug Partridge - All Rights reserved
http://www.secureyourcomputer.net
======================================
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by
approximately 94% of the Internet population. It also
poses an unacceptable security risk. What am I talking
about? If you guessed Internet Explorer, you're right on
the money. So, is your web browser putting you at risk?
If you're one of the 94% using Internet Explorer, the
answer is a definite *yes*. By my math, quite a few
people require critical information for protection.
What's the problem with Internet Explorer (known as "IE"
from here out) and how does it put you at risk?
The main problem with IE is the numerous security flaws.
As an example, between April 2001 and June 2004, Microsoft
documented *153 security flaws* in IE. When a security
flaw is discovered Microsoft releases information about the
flaw and the potential impact. *Usually* at this point
Microsoft provides a downloadable security fix to remedy
the problem. Since many people don't know about the flaw
and the fix, frequently people remain vulnerable for long
periods of time.
Just how serious are some of these security flaws? Some
of the critical security flaws allow attackers to basically
gain control of your computer and run whatever malicious
programs they chose. In many cases, a vulnerable computer
can be compromised just by visiting the wrong website.
Here are but a few of the malicious programs I've seen
loaded on computers through security holes in IE:
* Browser Hijackers. These are programs that do nasty
things like change your home page to another page, usually
something pornographic in nature. They can also install
software and links on your desktop, of course *without*
your permission.==
* Spyware. This is extremely devious and malicious
software, and in many cases, it's used by criminals for
online identity theft. Once it's on your computer, Spyware
sits quietly in the background recording information about
you. Do you shop and bank online? This is one threat to
be extremely concerned about.
What can you do to improve security?
Rather than continue to apply what amounts to "band
aid" security fixes to IE, I recommend a more permanent
solution. Stop letting IE put you at risk, and switch to
another web browser.
How exactly will switching web browsers help? Quite
simply, there are so many security exploits on the Internet
targeted specifically to IE that just by using another
browser, you'll happily avoid most of them.
The good news is that there are several alternative web
browsers available free of charge like Netscape, Mozilla,
Opera and Firefox. For more information a great website to
visit is http://BrowseHappy.com. This website is dedicated
to getting people to switch from IE. It's full of "real
life" stories about why people switched, and what browser
they're using now.
So, what's the best browser of the bunch? Well, it's
highly subjective of course, but my vote goes to ...
Firefox, "Rediscover the Web"
A new browser called Firefox has quickly become my web
browser of choice. First off, Firefox was written to be
"lean and mean" and it certainly delivers. It's faster at
loading web pages than IE and even provides features not
found in IE. Something I suspect will quickly become a
favorite feature is called tabbed browsing. Tabbed
browsing allows you to load multiple web pages in the same
window, and quickly switch between the loaded pages. Tired
of pop-ups? Firefox has the best built-in pop-up blocker
I've seen. I have yet to see a pop-up get past it. When
it comes to security, Firefox receives *high marks*.
Firefox definitely has a positive "buzz" going right now,
and it's easy to see why. If you're interested in trying
out Firefox, you can download it for free here:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
I'll conclude by saying that switching browsers is only
one of several steps necessary to protect yourself from the
many threats on the Internet, but it's certainly a good
place to start. Here's to practicing safe computing.
=====================================
Doug Partridge is co-author of a new eBook, "How to Secure
Your Computer Using Free Tools and Smart Strategies."
"Finally, the step-by-step Internet security guide that
should have come with your Windows computer, but didn't."
Free Details => www.secureyourcomputer.net
======================================
*** Attn Ezine Editors / Site owners ***
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your
ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in
place, do not modify the content and include our resource
box as listed above.
If you do use the material please send us a note at
articles@secureyourcomputer.net Thanks.
© 2004 - www.secureyourcomputer.net
# posted by Dan Reinhold @ 8:05 AM 
