joham1
TMF Poster
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
- Messages
- 78
- Points
- 6
Firefox, in my opinion, is the only choice for browsing on Windows (well, browsers like Opera and so on are also viable, but they tend to have their own problems - Opera doesn't support CSS very well).
The first thing I do when setting up a Windows box is install Zonealarm and block Internet Explorer's access to the internet permenantly (after installing Firefox of course).
Similarly, I will block Outbreak, err sorry Outlook, Express from access to the net - that program is like leaving your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Thunderbird (also from the Mozilla group) is a much better email app. Much less chance of viruses and worms from infecting you that way.
Of course, if I can, I recommend people use Mac OS X where possible.
Also as an aside to a previous poster, there is no question that Linux (all distros) are much, much, much more secure than Windows (all versions) regardless of the number of people who maliciously target them. Compromises on Linux and Unix systems (including Mac OS X which is based on Unix) tend to be through user error (easy to guess passwords, tricking users into running programs that allow remote access etc) rather than breaking the system itself. Of course, this happens on Windows too, but that's on top of the hundreds (yes, hundreds) of critical security vulnerabilities that can be exploited without any help from a clueless user.
The first thing I do when setting up a Windows box is install Zonealarm and block Internet Explorer's access to the internet permenantly (after installing Firefox of course).
Similarly, I will block Outbreak, err sorry Outlook, Express from access to the net - that program is like leaving your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Thunderbird (also from the Mozilla group) is a much better email app. Much less chance of viruses and worms from infecting you that way.
Of course, if I can, I recommend people use Mac OS X where possible.
Also as an aside to a previous poster, there is no question that Linux (all distros) are much, much, much more secure than Windows (all versions) regardless of the number of people who maliciously target them. Compromises on Linux and Unix systems (including Mac OS X which is based on Unix) tend to be through user error (easy to guess passwords, tricking users into running programs that allow remote access etc) rather than breaking the system itself. Of course, this happens on Windows too, but that's on top of the hundreds (yes, hundreds) of critical security vulnerabilities that can be exploited without any help from a clueless user.
