What is the most safest browser?
There are quite a number of browsers out there for you to choose from all boosting essential qualities good browsers should have to give a first impression such as user friendliness, display, and graphics and add-ons. But what if you are looking for something beyond just the aesthetic appeal of a browser and more concerned of how you will be kept safe while browsing, making purchases online using your credit card, typing in passwords to your online account?
Some points to consider when choosing a web browser for your computer is security.
A new NSS Labs report came out claiming that Internet Explorer is the safest browser especially where ‘Socially Engineered Malware’ is concerned. While IE is safe, it isn’t the safest. According to the W3school Web Browser survey, IE6 is the least safe which proves that Microsoft might have paid NSS Labs for the report. Because of its security loopholes, even Microsoft came up with a newer version of the browser almost rapidly in the form of IE7 or IE8 and Microsoft is encouraging its users to use the latest versions instead of sticking to IE6.
Though IE7 and IE8 are much better, they aren’t still the safest. The newer versions of IE also fail in the social engineered malware-links department. One recent example is the Koobface Malware that infected Windows Twitter, Facebook and MySpace accounts all in one go, collecting contact information from you and your friends. Of all the internet browsers surveyed, IE7 received 43% of affected users, IE8 a good 32% and IE 6 a total of 13%.
So what other choices do you have? Opera used to be really good until their launched their latest Opera Unite that looks more likely to become a major security disaster for the company. The passwords that you log into your accounts become part of the URL and Unite also doesn’t use an encryption protocol so anyone snooping around can pick up the password.
Another browser is Apple’s Safari which is compatible to be used in both Windows and Macs. Safari isn’t relatively popular because of its long and negative history with security issues.
If you really want a safe browser, then try Firefox or Google Chrome. Firefox has a long standing reputation for being user friendly and practical not to mention safe. It also comes with useful programs to go with the browser such as Foxmark, a handy extension that synchronizes your bookmarks across how every many computers you have.
Chrome is fast and is has become better ever since it first came out. Though that, these browsers should be kept updated as well. Of the two, Firefox is the more mature one and if you like add-ons and other web-browsing enhancements, then Firefox is a better deal. If speed and basics is what you are looking for, then Chrome is your selection. At the end of the day, if security is your main concern, then it’s either Google Chrome or the Mozilla Firefox which is a safer bet.