Firefox emerges as credible threat in browser battle

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Mon, Nov. 29, 2004 | Mike Langberg

[nickcarraway]

Firefox is one very hot browser, pardon the pun, and your computer will be safer if you switch to this free software that's heating up the charts.

There's been a seismic shift during November, with Firefox emerging as the first credible competitive threat in a decade to Microsoft's aging Internet Explorer browser for Windows.

[duckandcover]

Would Firefox be a more credible threat if you had the ability to search the web by just asking for any information with a question in plain English and had results returned based on the meaning of what's asked and the context in which it is asked?

You put this on Firefox's home page and have a special search button on the tool bar to take you to "Search." After all, according to Robert X. Cringely (author of Accidental Empires and the PBS TV special "Revenge of the Nerds"), the search function is the Internet!. See http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040422.html.

The search button can take you back to Firefox's home page (which because of the prominence of Google's logo and query box, I call it the search page), which would have the Google icon and another box called Firefox Context Search (or something like that).

Would this make Firefox miles ahead of Microsoft? Years ahead of Yahoo!?

Your thoughts, please...

[Honcho]

Make sure in the options (in the extensions area after highlighting bbcode) you select "enable html" and then use the "htmlcode" tab and not the bbcode tab. Most message forums don't use html code as Free Republic does, they use their own sort of code using [ instead of < .

[Jackknife]

Make sure in the options (in the extensions area after highlighting bbcode) you select "enable html" and then use the "htmlcode" tab and not the bbcode tab. Most message forums don't use html code as Free Republic does, they use their own sort of code using [ instead of < .

Thanks again! Works perfect now!

[cynwoody]

remove the San Jose MercuryNews cookie. Then you can read the link to this article without registering. This trick works for many newspapers.

Your first look at San Jose Mercury News is allowed but when you look again they try to force you to register.

Shouldn't it also work to add the SJ Mercury to your blocked cookie list? That way you won't have to remove it manually after each article.

[KoRn]

"I haven't crossed completely over to the dark side with Linux yet. I'm not too computer savvy with stuff like that"

Linux is easier than ever to use now with Mandrake 10.1 Official. If you can use Windows you can use the newest Mandrake.

I just wanted to throw this screen of my Desktop running Mandrake 10.1 Official.

The GUI runs super fast, and its veeeerry slick! I have yet to encounter any bugs at all. It seems to be a vast improvement from Mandrake 10.0. I would recommend this to anyone who is considering or is already running Linux.

Along with the good GUI the OS still has all the 'under the hood' power tools most Linux users enjoy.

It's also good for the average user who may be used to Windows and hasn't tried Linux. My wife took to it right away, the install is very easy too. Also, I have yet to have any issues with hardware and peripherals, like USB drives and digital cameras. Everything works. Without a doubt it's the best Linux Desktop OS to date!!

[dennisw]

Shouldn't it also work to add the SJ Mercury to your blocked cookie list? That way you won't have to remove it manually after each article.
_________________


You can try that but it didn't work for me. If you block the SJM cookie if forces you to register.

[snopercod]

I've been using FireFox for months now, and like it very much.

One problem I have found is that at one financial site (investors.com), it won't display the stock charts, and in fact crashes the browser every time I try.

Another minor problem is that the built-in popup blocker blocks parts of the actual pages on e-bay.

[goldstategop]

Xandros has a short learning curve. 99% of the time, you click and run an application. Even installing software is easy, although you have to set up the shortcuts and icons and install them into the Programs menu yourself. But Linux is rock-solid, consumes little in the way of active CPU resources and is immune to the viruses, worms, malware and spyware that's the plague of Windows. And virtually all of the software is available for free.

[duckandcover]

The link to pbs works. Just paste it into the browser and delete the last period (.) Sorry about that. Should be:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040422.html

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I agree that Linux has great potential. But, being a current user of Red Hat Linux I couldn't possibly recommend it to anyone but a near-expert computer user. It just doesn't have the support base for all of the hardware out there. I know for a fact that it will NOT work with my laptop's built in wireless network card. I'm going to keep using it, in a dual boot fashion, but I can't imagine the frustration (and expense) that a novice would have to go through to get Linux up and running on anything but a VERY standard, desktop, computer configuration. Add something new and different and forget it...

Just my experience so far, being an expert, using Linux for NASA development...

[goldstategop]

Xandros will detect and configure all your hardware and even set up peripheral devices for you with no intervention required. Check it out at http://www.xandros.com

[airedale]

Making a guess you probably have at least 2 problems. The first is that you have spyware on your system. Get the 3 free software programs I suggested Spyblaster, Spybot and Ad Aware. Those are the free ones. Install, update, and run them. With Spybot immunize your system. After you've got rid of everything and want to have a little more control and reduce the paranoia the amount of spyware, malware, etc that these things find turn on their Tea Time. Don't turn it on before you get rid of the stuff or it will be really annoying when you get rid of the junk. Running TeaTime is a matter of personal preference. It isn't essential. With SpyBlaster you have to turn on the protraction's which in effect immunizes your system against the pest it detects.

The reason I'm suggeting more than one spyware removal and prevention tool is that they all work slightly differently and are updated by their manufactures on different schedules. They sometimes find different things.

The second is either related to the first and getting rid of it will solve the grayed out boxes problem. Spyware helps you get pop-ups. The other reason you may get grayed out boxes when you want them is that either your Macromedia Flash or Java are out of date. But those garyed out boxes would be things that you want to see.

If you have a lot of spyware your system can be sending out info to the owners of the spyware and it cuts down on your bandwidth. The result is you will tend to get more time out messages. Your connection also will be a lot slower than it would without the darn stuff. A lot of it isn't really well crafted so it can mess up other processes as well. It can also help you get spam too.

If you have a few bucks also consider something like Pest Patrol. Go to TuCows.com and look at the various spyware and cookie controls. You might find something you like better. You also might want to download a trojan hunter killer. A lot of them have 30 day free trials. Even though this is a very safe site to get programs from scan them before you install them with your anti-virus software. That applies to all the software I recommended.

While your at it go to GRC.com and download leaktest and run it. Remember to answer no when your firewall asks you if it can access the Internet. If it gets out you have a hole in your defense. Again this is free software. There are some other tools there that you might like. Again they are free.

After you've removed all the spyware, malware, etc then check your security settings. My firewall, ZoneAlarm Pro has pop up, ad blocking and mobile code blocking settings. You should check the settings. I have mine off because I have other software doing the same thing. After you've checked your Firewall go to the Tools section of Internet Explorer and check the new POP-UP blocker that was installed with Service Pak 2 to WinXP (I assume you're Windows software is up to date along with your anti-virus and firewall). The default setting is that it's turned on and it's set at medium with the 2 blocks right above the setting checked.

If you have a standalone firewall go to the Windows Security Center in the Control Panel and make sure the Windows Firewall is turned off. If you don't have a stand alone firewall make sure it's turned on.

I have Ad Aware Pro running in background. It's my main cookie control and pop-up blocker. I bought it long before the firewalls and Windows XP offered it. I hated the darn things so I did what was necessary to get rid of them. It sometimes will let in a blank macromedia flash ad. I get the box but it's blank. It also prevents java windows from opening when you click on a link at a lot of sites. I have to turn it off and reload the page for the windows to open. If you have similar software that could be part of the reason you get blank pop up boxes. It could also be the WinXp Pop-up blocker that someone has started to find a way around.

One of the other reasons that you can get grayed out boxes is that your version of Macromedia Flash and or java is out of date. Pick up the latest version and install them.

If you haven't run a regular program to keep all that stuff off your system your going to have some really ugly stuff on your system. After you've got rid of all the spyware, updated all your software, run leaktest and the trojan detector you should change all your passwords on sites that involve money or where you can be financially hurt or where you can be embargoed by what someone writes in your name. If you don't find things like Keyloggers or Keysnatch programs you don't absolutely have to do this but I would anyway.

FWIW PestPatrol has built in keyloger and memory checker which runs at boot-up and runs in memory in case anyone tries to install one.

You need one other program. Some sort of a registry editor and repair tool I use Registry Mechanic to repair registry problems and remove things that shouldn't be there. It's made by Winguides who make the Regedit program for WinXP and earlier versions of Windows. When you get rid of all the spyware you'll have a lot of trash left in your registry. That will clean it up. That program costs about $30. It's worth it. Lava Soft who makes Ad Aware also has a free Registry Editor. You'll need that or Regedit to remove things that SpyBlaster finds unless you buy the paid version. I have the free version.

Registry editors can do real damage if not used properly. Spyblaster will sometimes pick up items as Dangerous that are necessary for some programs to run. For example Real Rhapsody has a program that reports what you have on your system in terms of music and videos to a central site. They are looking for copyright violations no matter what they say they are looking for. If you want to use Real Rhapsody you need this program. If you don't like that kind of thing being reported delete Real Rhapsody.

When your software finds problems if your not sure what it's reporting use Goggle and do a quick search to see what it is. Most of the time your going to get rid of what the stuff finds but it's better safe than sorry. Also it will help you in the future when you get another problem.

I know this sounds like a lot but once you get the system cleaned up it will only take about 10 to 20 minutes of your time if you run all of them when your doing something else like eating dinner. They really have to run by themselves. I run one after another and read while they are running or go to bed and clean up what they found in the morning.

I run them once a week and my anti-virus software twice a week at night for full system scans.

[ken21]

thanks.

you're right, that's a lot to digest; i'm working on it.

my isp suggested that my zone alarm conflicted with their system and to take it off, also, an ad blocker.

my computer does run better.

also, i notice that firefox blocks some pop ups.

[airedale]

You absolutely need a firewall!!!! Zone Alarm Pro works very well. I've used it for years. The idea that it conflicts with their ISP is ridiculous. Without a firewall you're like a house in a bad neighborhood with open windows and doors with signs outside saying come on in it's open take what you want. And the bad guys will flock to your place and install all kinds of bad stuff (key logers, keysnatches, trojans and stuff to use your machine in DDOS attacks. Zone Alarm and all good firewalls not only lock the windows and doors to prevent access from the outside but lock them so that you have to allow access to the outside. All you've really done by stomping Zone Alarm is opened a superhighway for the bad guys to use your system. They were being slowed down trying to find ways around your firewall. That takes resources and processor time. With it down they no longer have to work that hard and therefore resources and processor time are freed up and your system works faster.

IF it really did conflict with the ISP's system then I'd say get a new ISP. But it doesn't you got bum advice. Ad Blockers don't integer with their system either. They can slow things down if they use a proxy server arrangement to filter the latest ads (Ad Subtract Pro handles it that way). It can also stop some sights from loading since it's a requirement to accept a cookie or see the pop-up before it will load, but that has nothing to do with the ISP.

[Hildy]

I only use Firefox now. I think I read about it here on FR. For some reason, I just like it better.

[ken21]

ok.

i'll pull zone alarm out of the trash + re-install.

the isp said they had a firewall.

thanks.
ken

[ken21]

zone alarm re-installed.

and it's the culprit on the grey pop-up boxes with the error messages that a site cannot be found.

[Edgewood Pilot]

Thanks for the nice post. I am fairly new to Microsoft Windows 2000 and its bundled Internet Explorer. I suspect I would break a lot of things on this computer if I would try to load Firefox.

Nevertheless, I enjoy reading about your successes and Firefox is in that category!

[airedale]

Wouldn't break anything. From what I understand Firefox is a good program. One of the reasons it doesn't have a lot of the problems with spyware, malware etc is because the number of systems out there with it is very small. IE probably is on 95% or more of the systems including corporte systems. If your going to write something then you wirte it for the bigger market. Of course the same is true of those making protective software. If Firefox catches on it will become a target for those *ssh*les.

No matter what you're using I'd suggest picking up the free software I recommended. The price is right and they really help.

[airedale]

They do and it protects their computers not yours! Your basically a pass through for them. They provide a connection from your house to the superhighway but they do very little to monitor what goes on. They have some filtering software and some systems to check your system if they are having a problem due to your machine being used in a DDOS attack or being subject to one. They also have some software that keeps track of your bandwidth usage. Yours may be unlimited like mine is on a monthly basis but if your running a business that is really bandwidth intensive you'll hear from them about changing the type account you have. That's especially true if your pushing a lot of graphics to others. It's to protect their bandwidth that costs them $$$ and if it's eaten up by a DDOS attack causes problems with their other customers not getting the service they are paying for. Never leave it up to the ISP to protect your system anymore than you'd leave it up to the street and roads department of your local city to provide burglary protection for your house.