| Despite efforts to close security loopholes with | | | | include automatic updates, pop-up blocking, and |
| Microsoft Internet Explorer, problems abound. USA | | | | stronger overall security enforcement. |
| Today reports in a recent article entitled, "Security risks | | | | Supporting automatic updates, the new Software |
| swell for Microsoft's Explorer", that using Microsoft's | | | | Update feature makes it easy to get the latest |
| Internet Explorer Web browser to surf the Internet has | | | | security and feature updates to Firefox. Firefox |
| become a marked risk, even with the latest security | | | | automatically downloads these small updates in the |
| patches installed. | | | | background and prompts you when they are ready to |
| Other media outlets have followed suit. The British | | | | be installed. It is easy to forget to check a Web site to |
| journal The Inquirer reported that the US Government | | | | download new versions of software or install security |
| has sent out a warning out to internet users through its | | | | patches. |
| Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), | | | | If you have ever been annoyed by pop-ups, Firefox's |
| pleading users to stop using Microsoft's Internet | | | | built-in pop-up blocker has been enhanced to block |
| Explorer. Furthermore, in a vulnerability note released | | | | more unwanted pop-up and pop-under ads. |
| by US-CERT, it says "there are a number of significant | | | | And speaking of stronger security, Firefox keeps you |
| vulnerabilities in technologies relating to the IE domain" | | | | more secure when you're browsing the Web, closing |
| and that "it is possible to reduce exposure to these | | | | the door on spyware, worms, and viruses. The Firefox |
| vulnerabilities by using a different web browser." Well, | | | | community of developers and security experts works |
| they're right. | | | | around the clock to monitor security issues and |
| So what do you do if you need to surf the Web and | | | | release updates to better protect you. |
| don't want to use Internet Explorer? It may be time to | | | | Finally, an overlooked security issues (particularly on |
| give Firefox a try. Firefox is an award-winning, free | | | | shared computers) is the exposure of private data like |
| Web browser from Mozilla, the folks who brought you | | | | credit-card and social security numbers. Firefox |
| Web browsing before Microsoft jumped on the | | | | protects your privacy with the new Clear Private Data |
| bandwagon. | | | | tool. With a single click, you can delete all personal data, |
| According to the latest release notes, "Firefox protects | | | | including browsing history, cookies, Web form entries |
| you from viruses, spyware and pop-ups. Enjoy | | | | and passwords. |
| improvements to performance, ease of use and | | | | So if you're tired of adware and spyware issues with |
| privacy. It's easy to import your favorites and settings | | | | Internet Explorer, I'd recommend switching to Firefox, |
| and get started." Specific adware and spyware | | | | or at least trying it in parallel for a while. I've made the |
| prevention features of the latest edition of Firefox | | | | switch and I wouldn't go back. |