Most Secure Browser – Firefox, Opera, IE7 and Safari Tested!
How many times do people come to you and ask “Hey can you tell me real simple, whats the most secure browser?” and If people knew that you are an IT student they ask this a lot. When you run out of reasons or answers they just go away thinking that you have no knowledge of a simple question. Well the question might be simple but the answer is not. So Here I’m testing all the venerabilities of world’s leading 4 browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft IE7 and Opera. For this test I’m using a site called Scan IT, I’m running tests specified for each browser class so that we could identify their vulnerabilities if they exist.
Before you get started, some quick notes,
1. During testing if your security program alerts you the presence of a virus or a Trojan, be happy because its the same way these people test weather your browser protects you against them. Their attack method is similar to trojans and viruses but not malicious.
2. Sometimes your browser might crash, restart your browser and make sure you click “YES” when they ask “did your browser crash?”
3. (VERY IMPORTANT) During checks it will ask to set a site as homepage, install a plugin, or add a bookmark… you MUST deny or cancel all these requests as this is how they check weather your browser automatically allows these operations or asks for user confirmation.
Enough!, Lets See the results
Firefox 2
Opera 9.50 beta
IE 7
Safari
One last Note
Well I really don’t believe when some people say that IE7 is not secure and Firefox is Secure, In my opinion all the above browsers passed as fully secure in their classes. The use of a browser depends on your need, If you are a person who just wants to browse the net very fast and jus check your mails and surf then Safari and Opera will definitely come handy,
but If you are the type who wants more features and a lot of extra scripts and stuff and you do a lot more than just surf… then Firefox and IE are for you.
The main reason people are scared to use IE7 is that its soo deeply integrated with the OS, that if a virus or trojan messes up IE, the effects are directly reflected on your OS, but Microsoft is making IE modular in Windows Se7en so that will be more easier to fix when problems arise, but for now use IE only when you
1. Use windows update to regularly update your OS.
2. Use an Internet security suite software (this is usually required no matter what browser you use).
Saying these I would say that Mozilla Firefox is my personal favorite for 2 reasons,
1. If I mess it up a re installation would fix it.
2. There are hundreds of plug-ins for your every need.
Finally!
Be sure to update all the browsers to their most secure versions (not betas, do not expect maximum security in betas).
lolz….what about mozilla’s password storing program…….it makes the password visible to all..
goto
tools>option>security>show all passwords
it shows all the stored passwords. not that IE will display them but they are stored inside the files within the installed folder
on June 21, 2009
My browser passed everything with flying colors.. firefox of course.
on June 27, 2009
Weev found over 30 vulnerabilities in FireFox, and has waaaaaaaaaay too many in IE. There’s pretty much no secure browser, you can get hacked in anything now.
on July 8, 2009
This is a browser test, but it only applies to Windows?
I use Chromium, Opera, Firefox, and also Epiphany and Midori webkit browsers and Seamonkey (Gecko) browser.
They all pass this test. There are other reasons to avoid Internet Explorer and Microsoft in general, apart from security.
Using different browsers, one always comes across a problem whereby Microsoft are trying to control web using issues of compatibility.
Microsoft should not be the default for the world. Everyone should be able to use a computer, to use internet, and not be forced to use Microsoft.
on September 20, 2009
@hope you know: I agree, I can’t help but think that I have been paranoid with all the rumors??
http://www.mail-archive.com/cypherpunks@minder.net/msg12768.html
on December 4, 2009