DJ Event Planner

The usage of the Mozilla Firefox browser continues to grow. Firefox is an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, also known as IE. The market share of Firefox is over 16%, For some current browser statistics go here.

If you are using a Windows PC it is much safer to browse with a non-IE browser. IE uses ActiveX controls, which provide far too much control over a user's PC, are the biggest security threat for IE users. Since alternative browsers don't enable ActiveX, they aren't subject to the same threats. The major problem with IE is that it is too tightly integrated with the Operating System. The other problem is that IE does not adhere to web standards. Style sheet and javascript hacks are required for proper functionality.

For those that use DJEP via IE, I do happily support them because I don't have to provide support for their Operating System issues. When I do support these folks however, I typically find those that have slow running or corrupted computers in all cases are using IE as their default browser.

Here are just a few reasons why you should switch to Firefox or Opera:
* built-in popup blockers
* no additional toolbars required
* tabbed browsing
* user interface is better designed (IE7 was a step backwards)
* safe from ActiveX breaches
* not tightly integrated with the operating system
* many useful plug-ins available that won't compromise your machine
* free to download
* faster security patches
* less of a target to hackers than IE
* more standards compliant

I am certainly not anti-Microsoft. I use XP Pro on my 7 PCs. I own and use the full Office suite. I run the DJEP application on Windows Server 2003, which is a VERY secure web server platform. However, I strongly recommend that no one use IE except for one situation. That situation is when the site developer has been too lazy to develop the site for cross-browser usability.

Go get Firefox or Opera right now and save yourself some grief!