Microsoft identified a vulnerability in all version of Internet Explorer this week and has acted quickly to rectify the situation. If you want to know more about the issue then you can read about it HERE.
Other than that the official download critical fix is available HERE. If you use Internet Explorer then it is imperative that you update the browser as the vulnerability could allow remote code execution.
For anyone that still uses Microsoft Internet Explorer, there is unfortunately a new security issue affecting most versions of the browser.
There is no official fix available yet, so maybe there is no better time to switch to Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome!
Read more about it HERE.
Microsoft have recently released the second Beta of Internet Explorer 8. With Mozilla having also recently released Firefox 3 and setting a world record for the most downloads in one day, Microsoft are hoping that Internet Explorer 8 will win back a few users.
Internet Explorer has a massive advantage over Mozilla Firefox, it is automatically installed when Windows is installed. Even this has not prevented Firefox from steadily increasing its market share whilst Internet Explorer has steadily seen a loss in market share. Internet Explorer still remains the king of web browsers with the most users, by a very large margin but Firefox continues to gain ground.
Some Of The Features Of Internet Explorer 8
Whether all these enhancements are enough to turn the tide against the advancing Mozilla is doubtful. Firefox has won the hearts of a very loyal user base. However it is nice to see Microsoft responding to competition and giving us, the end-user, a (hopefully) improved product.
Choosing a web browser is like choosing a best friend. Your web browser will be with you for the entire lifespan of your computer and every time you surf the world wide web.
At the moment there are three browsers that are in popular use worldwide:
80% of the world’s Internet users use Internet Explorer (IE) which is also the default Internet browser for all computer’s using a Microsoft server. For this reason most hackers design Spyware and Malware with Internet Explorer in mind making it the least secure of the web browsers available.
The designers behind Internet Explorer combat this by releasing patches and updates to try and make IE more secure. Unfortunately, this practice is very frustrating for users of the browser, especially those who believed that a more lasting solution was forthcoming with the release of Internet Explorer 7.
Mozilla Firefox doesn’t use Active X controls so it’s already safer than Internet Explorer. Firefox has a pop-up and ad blocker add-on so you don’t have to be irritated by pop-up advertising while you’re trying to browse the Internet. One of the other neat security features native only to Firefox is the colour change that happens to the address bar when you enter a secure site. The address bar changes to yellow and a little padlock appears, indicating that you have entered a secure page.
The download control manager, tab browsing function and innovative Live Bookmarks function are all plusses on the side of Firefox. Not to mention that it’s faster and completely free. Having Firefox as your default browser will also certainly make your computer safer than having Internet Explorer.
Opera on the other hand is fast and has many buttons on the navigation bar, the functionality of which will be lost on most home users. The interface is not that easy-to-use unless you’re planning on using most of the functions regularly. I wouldn’t recommend Opera for home use unless you’re technical wizard.
So which is the best browser? At the moment it looks like Firefox wins hands down.
