Protecting our children against Internet predators

Why You Should Switch to Firefox

Firefox has won so many awards from various computer magazines it's impossible to keep track. One major computer magazine listed Firefox as product of the year, beating out all other hardware and software. So what is it? Firefox is arguably the best browser available and the best alternative to Internet Explorer. If more people new how well Firefox worked and how capable it is, it would have a market share of at least 80%. At some specialty computer sites, 85% of the visitors are using Firefox. This is another case where computer support people will use Firefox but won't mention it to their customers for fear of getting into a long discussion they can't afford to get into.

Since Internet Explorer, (IE), comes with Windows it has become the default browser, by "default", some people are unaware there is anything else. IE is by far the single biggest security problem on your computer. All the security patches Microsoft issues for IE won't make it safe to use because it makes use of two technologies not found in other browsers, ActveX and Visual Basic Scripting.

Some of Firefox's Default Features:

• Firefox blocks pop-ups

• It can also block ads on web pages

• Keeps Visual Basic Scripts from invading your system

• Blocks ActiveX controls, (small applets that can invade your system)

• Stores favorites as bookmarks, all in one easy to manage file that you can view as a categorized web page!

• Stores cookies in one easy to manage file

• Supports tabbed browsing, (learn this and you will never do without again)

• Features Live Bookmarks, RSS news feeds in bookmarks that update themselves

• Bookmarks that are far easier to manage than in IE

• Contains a fully customizable search bar for Google, Dictionary and more

• Automatic security patching notification and installations of the browser and installed extensions

• See this link for more Firefox Central and this page Firefox Home

In addition to the those items, Firefox supports extensions that integrate into the browser instead of having an additional program to install. There are several hundred extensions available to chose from.. See the Firefox extensions page.

There are ways to check your system for malware and virus infections and also get your "other" Windows XP security updates using Firefox. Just another reason for not needing or using IE. One of the best things about Firefox is that you can convert to Firefox from Internet Explorer in about 3 minutes and still have all your passwords, history, cookies and favorites