Info about using Explorer!

WinXP 2004 · 08-09-2004, 09:30 PM

Reasons to switch from Internet Explorer

Choose a subcategory, to learn more about problems and flaws in Internet Explorer:

* Major security issues in Internet Explorer

Security issues in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a very vulnerable browser. It allows many trojan-horses, worms, spyware and adware and other viruses through without the user doing anything wrong or knowing that anything has gone wrong. Recently, millions of IE users had computers which switched off for no reason at all times. This was the Sasser worm, which took advantage of a known flaw in IE. Since then, the US Government's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), produced an article which told users to stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

This is just some of the controversy surrounding Microsoft and IE regarding security. Many Internet Explorer users are now setting security settings to ridiculous levels, which slows down and stops certain sites from displaying. None of this is necessary. All that is necessary is to switch to a different browser.
Patches and Responses from Microsoft

In fairness to Microsoft, they have recently released patches for the more serious weaknesses, even recently. However new flaws seem to spring up very often, and computers which have not yet applied patches are still vulnerable.
Microsoft IE - Dangerous

Other known flaws in Internet Explorer enable nasty, viral programs to log and transmit credit card and bank account details. Again, the user may not even know this has happened. They may have only clicked on a link in an email, and their bank account could be at risk.

All versions of IE have dozens of known, serious security flaws, with possibly disastrous implications for individuals and businesses.
No viable responses from Microsoft

Because Microsoft are not going to be releasing another version of IE until their next operating system (called 'Longhorn') comes out, these flaws are not going to be addressed. If there is an international epidemic, MS may release a patch, but only after millions of computers have been affected.

* Spyware and Adware issues in Internet Explorer

Spyware & Adware in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is also very vulnerable to browser hijacking, which can install adware and spyware - malicious programs - on your PC.
What's Spyware?

Spyware works by monitoring your surfing habits and sending results back to a company. This slows your computer down a lot, and threatens your privacy.
What's Adware?

Adware works by infiltrating your browser and displaying ads on your PC. This also really slows down your browsing speed, and you have to look at a load of ads.

Sometimes, spyare and adware come bundled with software, but often they come embedded in spam emails and on hijacked websites.

* Internet Explorer's lack of modern user-centric features

Features in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is used by most people simply because it is on their computer when they buy it. Perhaps the most obvious disadvantages for the user are the bad features in IE.

While other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera have made great recent innovations, like tabbed-browsing, integrated search, one-click downloading, and various downloadable extensions, Internet Explorer has basically remained the same in terms of features. And if you want a certain feature in Mozilla Firefox, you can mention your idea on Mozilla's forums, and chances are someone will make it for you. Because it it is open source software, anyone can add things to it.

If you want to open two pages at once in IE, you have to open a new window. This is OK for two windows, but when you have several open, it can get very annoying. Mozilla, Opera and Safari have tabbed browsing
Internet Explorer- full of bugs and glitches

As well as having many bugs in the way it interprets web pages, IE also has many glitches in itself. When I used Internet Explorer, it crashed on average once a day. I used to have to close it in Windows' task manager and sometimes restart the computer. Since switching, Mozilla Firefox has crashed for me just once, and this was another program's fault.
Internet Explorer- The slowest browser on earth

IE takes longer to render pages. Thats fine for all you out there with broadband connections, but for the people on dial-up, it makes a huge difference. More information: Speed in IE

* How Internet Explorer is the slowest browser

Internet Explorer - The slowest browser

Internet Explorer, due to its thousands of web-page rendering bugs, has to spend extra time loading web pages. It goes to unnecessary lengths to handle errors, even when a DOCTYPE has been specified in the source sometimes.

As a result of this, IE loads web pages more slowly than necessary. And even when the page is loaded, IE renders it incorrectly.
Standards resistance = slower internet

Because Internet Explorer doesn't support CSS properly (faster download, because a page's design must only be loaded once, then just content), programmers and web designers must use 'hacks', or old or invalid code (takes longer to load). This means IE is slowing the entire Internet down significantly!

Web developers must go to extra lengths to make PNG alpha transparency, drop-down menus, and many other nice features work in Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer : Increased costs for all

Because web designers need to charge higher prices to ensure that pages work in Internet Explorer, their clients must pay extra. These costs are then passed down to you, the consumer.

* Internet Explorer's abysmal Web Standards support

Internet Explorer's Web Standards support

One of the great things about the the Internet are web standards. Web standards are controlled by a non-profit agency (the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)), and therefore do not favour any one company's intentions.

However, rather than actually support these essential web standards, Internet Explorer and Microsoft have effectively created their own (albeit through lazy programming, and countless numbers of bugs), and Internet Explorer as a result displays valid web pages incorrectly.

More about web standards can be found at The Web Standards Project: About.
Bad Standards Compliancy in IE leads to higher costs

Imagine how frustrated web developers must be when they create a beautiful design, complying to all official standards, which falls apart in Inernet Explorer. Tested in Mozilla and Opera, it works fine. They must spend extra time (and charge the client more) to make it work in Internet Explorer.

This client/company must pass on these costs to their customers, which means you are paying more than you need to because of Internet Explorer. Also, the loading time of the page increases because of extra coding.

* Internet Explorer and accessibility

Internet Explorer's Web Standards support

One of the great things about the the Internet are web standards. Web standards are controlled by a non-profit agency (the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)), and therefore do not favour any one company's intentions.

However, rather than actually support these essential web standards, Internet Explorer and Microsoft have effectively created their own (albeit through lazy programming, and countless numbers of bugs), and Internet Explorer as a result displays valid web pages incorrectly.

More about web standards can be found at The Web Standards Project: About.
Bad Standards Compliancy in IE leads to higher costs

Imagine how frustrated web developers must be when they create a beautiful design, complying to all official standards, which falls apart in Inernet Explorer. Tested in Mozilla and Opera, it works fine. They must spend extra time (and charge the client more) to make it work in Internet Explorer.

This client/company must pass on these costs to their customers, which means you are paying more than you need to because of Internet Explorer. Also, the loading time of the page increases because of extra coding.

08-09-2004, 09:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
WinXP 2004 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 8 OS: Windows ME	Info about using Explorer! Reasons to switch from Internet Explorer Choose a subcategory, to learn more about problems and flaws in Internet Explorer: * Major security issues in Internet Explorer Security issues in Microsoft Internet Explorer Internet Explorer is a very vulnerable browser. It allows many trojan-horses, worms, spyware and adware and other viruses through without the user doing anything wrong or knowing that anything has gone wrong. Recently, millions of IE users had computers which switched off for no reason at all times. This was the Sasser worm, which took advantage of a known flaw in IE. Since then, the US Government's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), produced an article which told users to stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer. This is just some of the controversy surrounding Microsoft and IE regarding security. Many Internet Explorer users are now setting security settings to ridiculous levels, which slows down and stops certain sites from displaying. None of this is necessary. All that is necessary is to switch to a different browser. Patches and Responses from Microsoft In fairness to Microsoft, they have recently released patches for the more serious weaknesses, even recently. However new flaws seem to spring up very often, and computers which have not yet applied patches are still vulnerable. Microsoft IE - Dangerous Other known flaws in Internet Explorer enable nasty, viral programs to log and transmit credit card and bank account details. Again, the user may not even know this has happened. They may have only clicked on a link in an email, and their bank account could be at risk. All versions of IE have dozens of known, serious security flaws, with possibly disastrous implications for individuals and businesses. No viable responses from Microsoft Because Microsoft are not going to be releasing another version of IE until their next operating system (called 'Longhorn') comes out, these flaws are not going to be addressed. If there is an international epidemic, MS may release a patch, but only after millions of computers have been affected. * Spyware and Adware issues in Internet Explorer Spyware & Adware in Internet Explorer Internet Explorer is also very vulnerable to browser hijacking, which can install adware and spyware - malicious programs - on your PC. What's Spyware? Spyware works by monitoring your surfing habits and sending results back to a company. This slows your computer down a lot, and threatens your privacy. What's Adware? Adware works by infiltrating your browser and displaying ads on your PC. This also really slows down your browsing speed, and you have to look at a load of ads. Sometimes, spyare and adware come bundled with software, but often they come embedded in spam emails and on hijacked websites. * Internet Explorer's lack of modern user-centric features Features in Internet Explorer Internet Explorer is used by most people simply because it is on their computer when they buy it. Perhaps the most obvious disadvantages for the user are the bad features in IE. While other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera have made great recent innovations, like tabbed-browsing, integrated search, one-click downloading, and various downloadable extensions, Internet Explorer has basically remained the same in terms of features. And if you want a certain feature in Mozilla Firefox, you can mention your idea on Mozilla's forums, and chances are someone will make it for you. Because it it is open source software, anyone can add things to it. If you want to open two pages at once in IE, you have to open a new window. This is OK for two windows, but when you have several open, it can get very annoying. Mozilla, Opera and Safari have tabbed browsing Internet Explorer- full of bugs and glitches As well as having many bugs in the way it interprets web pages, IE also has many glitches in itself. When I used Internet Explorer, it crashed on average once a day. I used to have to close it in Windows' task manager and sometimes restart the computer. Since switching, Mozilla Firefox has crashed for me just once, and this was another program's fault. Internet Explorer- The slowest browser on earth IE takes longer to render pages. Thats fine for all you out there with broadband connections, but for the people on dial-up, it makes a huge difference. More information: Speed in IE * How Internet Explorer is the slowest browser Internet Explorer - The slowest browser Internet Explorer, due to its thousands of web-page rendering bugs, has to spend extra time loading web pages. It goes to unnecessary lengths to handle errors, even when a DOCTYPE has been specified in the source sometimes. As a result of this, IE loads web pages more slowly than necessary. And even when the page is loaded, IE renders it incorrectly. Standards resistance = slower internet Because Internet Explorer doesn't support CSS properly (faster download, because a page's design must only be loaded once, then just content), programmers and web designers must use 'hacks', or old or invalid code (takes longer to load). This means IE is slowing the entire Internet down significantly! Web developers must go to extra lengths to make PNG alpha transparency, drop-down menus, and many other nice features work in Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer : Increased costs for all Because web designers need to charge higher prices to ensure that pages work in Internet Explorer, their clients must pay extra. These costs are then passed down to you, the consumer. * Internet Explorer's abysmal Web Standards support Internet Explorer's Web Standards support One of the great things about the the Internet are web standards. Web standards are controlled by a non-profit agency (the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)), and therefore do not favour any one company's intentions. However, rather than actually support these essential web standards, Internet Explorer and Microsoft have effectively created their own (albeit through lazy programming, and countless numbers of bugs), and Internet Explorer as a result displays valid web pages incorrectly. More about web standards can be found at The Web Standards Project: About. Bad Standards Compliancy in IE leads to higher costs Imagine how frustrated web developers must be when they create a beautiful design, complying to all official standards, which falls apart in Inernet Explorer. Tested in Mozilla and Opera, it works fine. They must spend extra time (and charge the client more) to make it work in Internet Explorer. This client/company must pass on these costs to their customers, which means you are paying more than you need to because of Internet Explorer. Also, the loading time of the page increases because of extra coding. * Internet Explorer and accessibility Internet Explorer's Web Standards support One of the great things about the the Internet are web standards. Web standards are controlled by a non-profit agency (the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)), and therefore do not favour any one company's intentions. However, rather than actually support these essential web standards, Internet Explorer and Microsoft have effectively created their own (albeit through lazy programming, and countless numbers of bugs), and Internet Explorer as a result displays valid web pages incorrectly. More about web standards can be found at The Web Standards Project: About. Bad Standards Compliancy in IE leads to higher costs Imagine how frustrated web developers must be when they create a beautiful design, complying to all official standards, which falls apart in Inernet Explorer. Tested in Mozilla and Opera, it works fine. They must spend extra time (and charge the client more) to make it work in Internet Explorer. This client/company must pass on these costs to their customers, which means you are paying more than you need to because of Internet Explorer. Also, the loading time of the page increases because of extra coding.