I'm in Firefox..Yeah!!

I really like it - thanks, Microsoft and Bill, for giving me the option. But one major query...
I use Internet Banking, so do I need to do anything to make Firefox more secure?

Nope. I use FF and do internet banking, no problems.

There are a couple of add-ons of those I use that may be of benefit.

Adblock Plus
British English Dictionary

Thanks. I notice that when I click on a link (in an email for example) it still opens in IE. Is there any way of telling it to open links in Firefox? I assume that I need to make Firefox my default browser, but I haven't done that yet as I've heard that there's a conflict issue.

Conflict with what? The only thing I know that insists on using IE is Windows Update, I can live with that.

FF has been my default browser for 2 years or more IIRC. When I rebuilt my PC late last year, as soon as I'd installed FF I made it my default.

Set FF to default, you can always change if need be.

Agree entirely with cheshire_man. I haven't had IE as my default for at least 3 years now if not longer. As you say Windows Update insisting on using IE I can live with.

Certainly no conflicts in all that time.

Sorry, I read that if you have Firefox open and then open IE there can be problems. I've been doing it and both seem happy to work together. One thing I've noticed is that Firefox insisted on me downloading the very latest version of Flash before it would play embedded video, wheras IE was happy with the older version. Remind me how to make Firefox default whilst keeping IE on my machine. Does Automatic Updates still work OK if Firefox is the default?

Use FF as default: for me its under Tools|Options|Advanced|General - but I don't have the latest version, and I note that they're apt to change places for these settings.

More often than not this is a question you needn't ask since if the bank are unhappy with Firefox then they will block it from being used to access their system.

Does Automatic Updates still work OK if Firefox is the default?

Yes.

In reply to a post by dandnsmith:

Use FF as default: for me its under Tools|Options|Advanced|General - but I don't have the latest version, and I note that they're apt to change places for these settings.

It's still there in FF3.6

When I'm doing web site work I'll sometimes have all 4 of my browsers (FF, IE, Opera, Chrome) open simultaneously to check appearance. Never had a conflict problem.

Anyone opened their Sunday Times technology section today (back of the In Gear supplement)? Firefox is their recommendation. Maybe I should set up as a clairvoyant.

I don't quite get this Personas thing. Is it right that it's only visible in the top 3 centimetres or so?
Any way to see the whole thing? If not, what's the point? First Firefox gripe - the help page for this is not very clear.

Are Personas a FF V3.6 thing?

I've just upgraded to 3.6 and at the moment can see no difference from 3.5 previously.

Ah, just Googled, it seems to be a personalised skin. I'm quite happy with my current one thank you.

"Personalised Skins"?

I started thinking about "Silence of the Lambs" when you mentioned that.

In reply to a post by zhugeliang:

"Personalised Skins"?

I started thinking about "Silence of the Lambs" when you mentioned that.

That's just woolly thinking

In reply to a post by GeoffB:

Thanks. I notice that when I click on a link (in an email for example) it still opens in IE. Is there any way of telling it to open links in Firefox? I assume that I need to make Firefox my default browser, but I haven't done that yet as I've heard that there's a conflict issue.

go into default programs and set the webrowsing to all for firefox.. opening of html pages via files and links are handled separately ...

I should get xp mode reinstalled

In reply to a post by GeoffB:

One thing I've noticed is that Firefox insisted on me downloading the very latest version of Flash before it would play embedded video, wheras IE was happy with the older version.

I think you are wrong.

I.E. uses a Flash thing which incorporates Active X and all its security vulnerabilities.

FireFox is much safer, but you have to use Firefox to download/instal the safe version.

The two executables are totally independent.

I.E. cannot use the safe version of Flash.
Firefox cannot use the dangerous version.

Probability is that Firefox MAY have found it had a much more obsolete version that I.E. was using - perhaps there was no version at all.

You have to visit Adobe Flash with the browser for which you want Flash.

Alan

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

I.E. uses a Flash thing ...............

Hmmm...... sounds like we have a real expert here.

The bottom line is..... if you are relying on your choice of internet browser for your computer's security, you really ought to think about taking up a different hobby. One that leaves you with less risk of having your personal details stolen.

Wrong. If you ignore browser, OS and other app security and rely instead on firewalls and antivirus software, you haven't got a clue

In reply to a post by 12eason:

Wrong. If you ignore browser, OS and other app security and rely instead on firewalls and antivirus software, you haven't got a clue

I didn't say that. I said that it was foolish to assume your computer was safe, based purely on your choice of browser.

No-one claimed they are assuming their computer is safe just because of their browser choice.

Actually, I have all the usual security programs, plus one sent free from my bank to check that the logon page is not a spoof, plus I operate in Limited User mode for routine computing, plus I empty all caches daily. My network uses WPA2 encrytion and I have MAC address filtering. Is it not a fact that some browsers are safer than others then? I genuinely don't know, and would like to add yet another layer of safety - hence my question.

It's true that IE is not secure. Using a different browser will remove threats that IE poses.

Hmmm...... sounds like we have a real expert here.

That must be the best line I have come across on this forum yet.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

It's true that IE is not secure. Using a different browser will remove threats that IE poses.

...... and will add all the threats that the new browser poses. No software is 100% secure. More security holes are found (and patched) in IE because it is by far the most used browser in the world, and the one most targeted by scammers. If more people used Firefox, Chrome, etc, would more threats be found in those ?

IE is inherently insecure. It's almost as if Microsoft deliberately added security holes into it. Also, there's a time-lag between a problem being reported and Microsoft fixing it due to budgetary constraints. Firefox on the other hand has millions of resources available being open-source and you can fix it yourself if you want.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

IE is inherently insecure. It's almost as if Microsoft deliberately added security holes into it.

Congratulations. You have surpassed yourself, which can't be easy.

Have you thought about a job on the Daily Mail ?

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

IE is inherently insecure. It's almost as if Microsoft deliberately added security holes into it. Also, there's a time-lag between a problem being reported and Microsoft fixing it due to budgetary constraints. Firefox on the other hand has millions of resources available being open-source and you can fix it yourself if you want.

Well, you may have to.......


Germany warns against use of Firefox browser