I use Internet Explorer (IE) solely as a matter of habit but also because I believe it is secure enough for web use. I’ve had my assumption challenged a few times by other colleagues who believe that IE is an inherently unsafe browser.
Today I did some online research to determine if the claim of superior online security is a correct one for the non-IE browsers.
My first surprise was the popularity of Firefox. Nearly half of the browsers in use are Firefox and the three types of IEs add up to less. Last time I checked in July 2006, Firefox was at 26%, which, back then, made me feel smug about my IE preference.
|
2009 |
|||||||
|
October |
12.8% |
14.1% |
10.6% |
47.5% |
8.0% |
3.8% |
2.3% |
|
September |
12.2% |
15.3% |
12.1% |
46.6% |
7.1% |
3.6% |
2.2% |
|
August |
10.6% |
15.1% |
13.6% |
47.4% |
7.0% |
3.3% |
2.1% |
Browser Usage for the last three months
The online research I did to find a definite ‘most secure’ browser did produce a clear winner. IE8. I am pleasantly surprised to find it has the best features for defending against Socially Engineered Malware and Phishing. These two vulnerabilities are quite difficult to defend against because they involve the user to a high extent.
When users are not aware of the threats present in an activity it is easier for them to be fooled into acting to the benefit of criminals. Browser makers are now designing technologies that rate websites in order to warn or block users from visiting them.
While IE8 might be the champ, I still believe the user can control how secure the browser runs on their system.
A browser is similar to other applications in that it comes with a default setting. The security level of this in most cases is the lowest and needs to be adjusted for improvement. This should be done as soon as the browser is installed to avoid infections such as spyware. In IE browsers the adjustment can be done in the Tools > Internet Options section. Here is an excellent tutorial on securing your browser.
Web activity contributes the most to the spread of infections and the growth of cyber crime. Securing the browser is a major step towards protecting your system and data. It is not the only step and should be complemented by the use of antivirus software on your computer. Software vendors send out updates, patches, for their products, receiving these updates should be automated as much as possible.
Photo by Amehare