Why I Use Firefox

For me, it's Firefox 1.0 for now. I like IE, but there's far too many fundamental flaws with Microsoft's code base, which leads to new flaws being discovered daily -- along with the corresponding exploit.

Another factor is what's known as "Zero Day Exploits". These are flaws that someone discovers but does not share with anyone. Instead, they quietly develop an exploit -- and launch it on the world without notice, often creating ennormous chaos and damage. Since Firefox's source code is available for anyone to download, examine, and scrutinize, it would be much more difficult to develop a zero day exploit for Firefox. IE's source code, on the other hand, is not public knowledge, and when someone discovers a flaw, they stand a much better chance of developing a zero day exploit before someone else discovers it and writes a patch.

If you depend upon your computer at all for business, I recommend that you use Firefox whenever possible. Exploits that work against IE often don't work against Firefox, which makes Firefox a low-cost way to mitigate the risks associated with web browsing (it's not free because your time is worth money, and it takes a bit of time to download, install, configure, and learn).

Here are a couple of other risk mitigating steps to consider:

1. Only use Internet Explorer on sites that absolutely need it, and then only if you trust the site.

2. Don't surf the web using a computer that is "near and dear" to you. Protect your business and its data by not exposing it to the dangers of the Internet. Spend a few extra bucks to buy a "web only" computer and just transfer files back and forth using a thumb drive.

3. Your computer is a tool to get work done, much like your car is a tool to provide you transportation. It's not like a television set that you can just plug in, turn on, and use. You wouldn't even think about driving a car without getting training, getting a license, buying insurance, etc. -- but we take a computer out of the box, plug it in, and go! Take the time to learn what's going with your computer so that you're better prepared to deal with problems.

At any rate, for now, it's Firefox for me.

Oh -- I leave cookies turned on, but run AdAware and SpybotSD regularly to kill the data miners.