Firefox Risks / Downside ??

Razzierb

Razzierb

Joined
Jun 26, 2003
Messages
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I didn't want to waylay Slatt's thread about the virtue of Firefox, but I'm kind of in the same boat as some that haven't bought in yet. My son has loaded it on one of our computers and loves it, but I've resisted to this point.

What's the downside of using it? Are the internet security suites like Kaspersky & Norton effective with Firefox? What about the virus and other protections that IE brings to bear. Does Firefox have the same level of defense against the internet nasties or is the general user base still small enough that the bad guys don't waste their time trying to penetrate a Firefox desktop? :confused:
 
Razzierb said:
I didn't want to waylay Slatt's thread about the virtue of Firefox, but I'm kind of in the same boat as some that haven't bought in yet. My son has loaded it on one of our computers and loves it, but I've resisted to this point.

What's the downside of using it? Are the internet security suites like Kaspersky & Norton effective with Firefox? What about the virus and other protections that IE brings to bear. Does Firefox have the same level of defense against the internet nasties or is the general user base still small enough that the bad guys don't waste their time trying to penetrate a Firefox desktop? :confused:
Click to expand...

Not to call any names here, but Norton is not what it use to be, they were bought out by Symatec (sp) and the association with larger companies they sold (IMHO) ways around their virus protections and allowed other bugs to get into your system, if you are using Norton, change, also they are nearly impossible to completely take off your system, if you change, use a free download called Revo uninstaller and it will remove all traces of the programs and allow you to get some real protection. I used to think they were the cats meow until I ran into some problems, solved only by getting it off my system and using other ones, some for a price, some free.

Back to your question, IE is the most popular browser, hence most Trojans and Malware are written for it, but I would still run a firewall and virus scans. I personally use Webroot firewall and virus protection. Also Adware SE (free), and Advance System care (free). Spybot Search and Destroy is also a good one. I loved firefox 3 and still use it on occasion, but recently switched to Chrome from Google, I really like it better. But to each their own.

Good Luck on the browser wars.
Jim
 
I've been using Firefox for some years now; no problems. When I was using IE, my AdAware and Spybot programs would catch numbers of "problems" per month. With Firefox, its frequently none at all.
Make sure to download any updates, just as you would with any such program.

I use Zone Alarm for the firewall and run AVG (the free one) virus protection.
 
Internet Exploder is one of the worst web browsers ever made. It's a so bad that even attempts to get as many people as possible to use Microsoft proprietary technology by making web pages unusable to people using anything BUT Internet Explorer (The "This webpage best viewed in Internet Explorer" sites that wouldn't load in any other browser, etc.) failed miserably.

IMO, it's full of security holes, it's a slow program, and there are much better ones out there. It's MORE risky to use than Firefox.
 
Razzierb said:
I didn't want to waylay Slatt's thread about the virtue of Firefox, but I'm kind of in the same boat as some that haven't bought in yet. My son has loaded it on one of our computers and loves it, but I've resisted to this point.

What's the downside of using it? Are the internet security suites like Kaspersky & Norton effective with Firefox? What about the virus and other protections that IE brings to bear. Does Firefox have the same level of defense against the internet nasties or is the general user base still small enough that the bad guys don't waste their time trying to penetrate a Firefox desktop? :confused:
Click to expand...
Firefox is a FAR better browser than IE. It's much more secure, especially due to some amazing plug-ins... and the lack of ActiveX (which is the reason of IE's security woes) is much more of a plus, than a minus.

Install Firefox and the following plug-ins (make sure to install plugins only from the official mozilla add-ons site):
- Adblock Plus (don't see ads)
- Secure Login (prevent drive-by stealing of your saved passwords)
- NoScript (will require SOME maintenance as you build-up your database of trusted sites, but will block 99%+ of all "drive-by" malware).
 
Downsides to firefox:
Its not IE, and since everyone uses it, some sites don't work quite right.
Updates often, which can be a hassle as your extensions update later and sometimes not at all.
Workarounds must be used to keep things from opening in IE from links inside windows (windows help, MSN)
some things are different and are therefor unfamiliar to longtime (and less savvy) IE users
most, if not all antivirus, anti-spy programs will work with firefox, and some actually run inside it to protect you before hand
Using firefox may lead you to switch to thunderbird (mail client)
To be honest, I can't think of any downsides for myself (I use firefox) but I did my best to honestly think of some reasons why not to.
 
I think some very fair appraisals have already been offered up. What is important is to differentiate between hazards and hassles.

On the hazards front you need to be looking at the running of 'scripts' as a priority. To that extent you must consider the 'NoScript' add on mandatory. Most of the vulnerabilities that Firefox has relate to this in some way – look at the history of exploits and fixes at Secunia for further reading. While you're at it, you also want to be regulating 'Flash'. If I wanted to get at Firefox I certainly wouldn't overlook that route. Happily, you can regulate both using the NoScript add on, and only allow them when you're on a site your confident in. For the rest of the time leave that bling for the kiddies using social networking sites and all the rubbish that comes with that. If you follow this simple procedure you will harden Firefox considerably.

The Adblock add on mentioned above is great for dealing with hassles. Similarly one can use the Customize Google add on to remove crud amongst other things. The downside of this is pretty much all about familiarity. Some people need to see all those banners and eye-candy to be able to navigate the net effectively. On a related note, and half way between hassles and hazards I would could consider add ons that regulate the use of images. Immediately I'm thinking of the Image Like Opera add on and Request Policy. Not only can they be used to run t'internet faster but they can also be a barrier against cross site scripting attacks. The downside is that for some the intertubes would become unfamiliar without all the visual cues. Is that really a downside to Firefox, nah, I don't think so. Firefox is giving you power with these and many other add ons. How quickly you learn how to address the unfamiliar bits that arrive as a consequence is not really anything to do with Firefox.

A good example of that is that “some sites don't work quite right” when you use Firefox. That isn't a fault of Firefox, some sites are just badly written. That can easily be overcome anyway simply by modifying your headers. That's no different to what you often have to do to access these sites from your cell phone.

I think the biggest trap for noobs migrating to Firefox is the vast amount of add ons that can be done to it. Firefox can be run light and secure with a few well chosen bits through to a heavyweight resplendent with an array of convenience features. Be disciplined, there is a lot of junk. There are so many two a penny tools bars and other crap to trip the unwary. Choose well and learn your “about:config” and it could be the best interweb choice you've made.
 
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IE is the AOL of browsers, it's designed for the lowest common denominator and it shows it.

My only complaint with Firefox is that retarded "awesome bar" that instead of just showing the websites you have typed in, wants to show every web page. However, fortunately there is a fix for that too, a simple configuration change in about:config. The "awesome bar" isn't.
 
The only thing I use IE for now is checking for Windows Updates. I turned off automatic updates years ago, and just check the site monthly. It won't work with anything but IE.
 
I forget which extension will do it, but there is one that lets firefox act like IE, for that purpose
 
jim preston said:
Downsides:
Tabbed browsing set as default
Click to expand...
Did you want to say advantage? Seriously, I know way more people who prefer tabbed browsing than others who have tried it for at least one week. I was reluctant for tabs at first but now I just can't bear using non-tabbed browsing anymore.

jim preston said:
Less gadgets
Click to expand...
which gadgets are you talking about? I use way more gadgets on FF than I did on IE.
 
I was reluctant for tabs at first but now I just can't bear using non-tabbed browsing anymore.
Click to expand...

What other kind of browsing is there? I like the tabs too.
 
The other kind of browsing is the default kind, you know, with windows? The one where you can use Alt+F4 to close stuff and use the X button in the top right to close stuff.
And by gadgets- I had like 3 toolbars on IE, Google, Yahoo, and Dell. I could access my email, weather, movies, etc, at the push of a button. Now, on Firefox, I don't have those.
 
The one where you can use Alt+F4 to close stuff and use the X button in the top right to close stuff.
Click to expand...

On my computer I can close the tab by clicking the X on the tab or doing 'option W'. Looks like you can go to preferences and set windows as the default.

And by gadgets- I had like 3 toolbars on IE, Google, Yahoo, and Dell. I could access my email, weather, movies, etc, at the push of a button. Now, on Firefox, I don't have those.
Click to expand...

Maybe you don't have your FF set up completely. I can check those items or others I prefer with the click of a mouse.

OTOH maybe we aren't talking about the same thing.:confused: Anyway, I like FF.

Edit: to add try going to preferences.
 
On my computer I can close the tab by clicking the X on the tab or doing 'option W'. Looks like you can go to preferences and set windows as the default.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I ended up setting windows as default, but it is a lot more natural to hit the X button than the little X in the tab.
 
You can just hit ctrl + w to close a tab, it's much quicker than messing around with the mouse. Alt + F4 closes FF fine for me too.

I've been using Firefox since it was known as Phoenix, and while I like it, I have to say the more it gets updated the worse it runs for me. Opera runs worlds better for me as far as page loading speed and switching through tabs and so forth. I'm just so familiar with Firefox that I feel like I'm jumping through hoops trying to configure Opera to my needs, so I stick with FF. I deal with the sometimes atrocious (1 minute +) lags and huge memory footprint because otherwise it's a fantastic piece of software. I like how much you can customize it, with extensions, about:config and so on.
 
I ran IE, Firefox and Chrome on three identical machines for a month. Chrome was the best, hands down. All machines are set up with Chrome now. IE stays on the platforms for those rare sites that only work with IE, and to retrieve the updates on the second Tuesday of each month.

For Firefox, Kaspersky has a plug-in that will allow their internet security suite to work.

My next run is Thunderbird vs. OE and Outlook. After a week, it looks like Thunderbird is at the top of the list, but 3 more weeks will tell.
 
jim preston said:
The other kind of browsing is the default kind, you know, with windows? The one where you can use Alt+F4 to close stuff and use the X button in the top right to close stuff.
And by gadgets- I had like 3 toolbars on IE, Google, Yahoo, and Dell. I could access my email, weather, movies, etc, at the push of a button. Now, on Firefox, I don't have those.
Click to expand...

I have a row of buttons under the address bar on my FF that instantly start up my mail, weather, forums and other regular use things. I can set it to start up the web pages I regularly use in different tabs as soon as I start FF. I have an extension that instantly notifies me if I receive any Yahoo Mail or Gmail and another extension that blocks ads on web pages. Way way better than IE.
 
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