Seriously considering getting rid of IE

[Endangered Specie]

I am so sick of all the spyware this and malware that I get just by opening IE, even specialized programs designed to get rid of things don't always work. How could anyone design such a flawed product?? I'd bet I could do better programming.

Unfortunately, Im used to (and like) the layout of IE, and I need advice as to what browser to use as an alternate...

One that is very compatible with heavy web-surfing, and, primarily, well secured ( and a decent layout doesn't help).

Thanks. If you have any other IE horror stories, do share them too, that might be the straw that breaks the camel's back and makes me switch for good.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. Man. You don't know tabbed browsing. Get Mozilla (any flavor).

You won't be able to refer to IE without a sneer afterwards. And there's popup blocking too.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Firefox! Firefox! Firefox!

The best ever!

[Darranar]

10. I use that, works very well. n/t

[VOX]

24. Firefox fan here, too. (n/t)

[billbuckhead]

3. And here's where to go

<http://www.mozilla.org/> Firefox or regular Mozilla is a huge improvement. I use Thunderbird mail client as well.

[Endangered Specie]

4. Firefox is browser only?

[Liberal Veteran]

5. Yes, but OH WHAT A BROWSER!

It's the bomb!

[Endangered Specie]

6. Installing it as I speak.

I like that tabbed browsing feature I read about.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Yea it is. If you want to smite Outlook too in one blow get Mozilla proper

JavaScript blocking by default and NO automatic execution of anything!

[Endangered Specie]

8. Hmmm, kill outlook did you say?

Well, well well then. ;)

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Outlook is crap.....crap I say!

And I supported it for years as a technician for MS.

Crap!

Unsafe.

Buggy.

Cumbersome.

Crap!

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. Mozilla also makes a standalone e-mail client called Thunderbird.

I'd recommend that and Firefox over the integrated Mozilla 1.1 because the browser is so much better.

Mozilla 1.1 is pretty much a clone of Netscape 6 (except the Mozilla actually works)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. What about migrating your old mailboxes and filters etc.?

Is there a utitity for that?

[rucky]

33. I'm wondering about that too n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

34. Mailbox & addressbok - yes. Filters - Can't find one

Doesn't mean there isn't one, tho. I found these converting procedures for mailbox/addressbok (some configuration tips too):

http://www.felgall.com/brsnet9.htm

[cprise]

11. You main choices are Mozilla and Firefox

Firefox wins in the layout dept. I think. It is only a 4.5 MB download.

You can get them both here: http://www.mozilla.org

Opera has a good reputation, but its less popular and if you don't pay for it, the always-present banner ad can drive you crazy (it certainly bothered me).

BTW, none of the net-active spyware stuff will leave your system just by switching from IE. The best course for you at this point may be to wipe your system and re-install Windows before switching to another browser. If you think that is too drastic, just read this:
Infected Windows PCs Now Source Of 80% Of Spam

Windows systems are nests of spyware and virus infestation, largely due to IE and Outlook usage (and because people always run with admin privilege); Best clear it out. I feel obliged to say that I left Windows some time ago and use Xandros Linux at home now. Although it runs only some of my Windows games, it does everything I want.

[Endangered Specie]

12. The spyware that keeps reappering on me...

Cool Web Search, seems to be an IE only disease, changes my homepage.

[cprise]

17. True

And with IE always present, that spyware is always running whether you see it or not.

[Endangered Specie]

19. Considering all it does is change IE defaults...

it really doesn't matter, I run Adaware and other anti-crap stuff almost daily.

[welshTerrier2]

32. get SpywareBlaster

it's great ...

I used to run adAware and SpyBot ... the software almost always found tons of problems it needed to clean-up ... i saw a product mentioned in the spyBot program called spyWareBlaster ...

after having all sorts of really major problems, i've had none whatsoever for many months ...

now, with SpywareBlaster installed, adAware and spyBot never find anything ... and SpywareBlaster doesn't need you to run it ... it blocks spyware from even reaching your machine ...

you can download it for free from: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

btw, one of the options it provides is the ability to block software from changing your browser's home page ... all you have to do is check the little box when you install it ...

[Politicub]

13. I like FireFox

Give it a spin. It's easy to remove if you don't like it.

In fact, I've been using it for about a month and last night I made it my default browser. I haven't come across a page that it can't handle, but I'm sure there are some like that in the MSN.com domain.

There are no ads, it's fast, and you can download a cool RSS sidebar plugin where you can read breaking news headlines from DU without going to the site. (well, most of the time -- DU's RSS feed is currently down)

[Endangered Specie]

14. Where is the uninstall for IE?

cant seem to find it.

[Politicub]

15. I don't even know if you can uninstall IE

It's integrated with Windows. It doesn't have to be, but Microsoft designed it like that so it would be inconvenient to use a competing browser. That's what prompted many of the antitrust suits brought up against Microsoft.

So many applications use IE or components of it for one thing or anther. I use MS Money, so I have to keep it on my system.

[AntiCoup2K4]

22. Unistalling IE is next to impossible

Because the files involved are used by so many other MS applications. Windows explorer and IE are basically the same program with a different GUI. Even Outlook can be used as a web browser. Too much repitition.

Just set Firefox as your default browser and pretend IE's gone.

[Endangered Specie]

23. done... thanks.

[Canuckistanian]

16. What about Opera?

Is it any good?

[Endangered Specie]

18. Its ad-supported apparently.

[alarcojon]

25. I had the same question

I use Opera all the time and don't miss IE at all. I'm not that computer-savvy, so I can't speak to the spyware issue. Can anyone help me?

[Radical_Middle]

20. You can also try netscape 7.1

It is basically mozilla, but it is compatable with more online banking websites.

[billbuckhead]

27. I've been using firefox, mozilla and camino for banking

and they have improved significantly in recent versions.

[King_Crimson]

28. Agree...

Thinking about switching to Netscape myself!

[Renew Deal]

29. Do Mozilla.

I have used it and it's very good. Stay away from Netscape. It's fat as always and it's too mixed up with other software.

[RoyGBiv]

30. My IE horror story...

One day, I used IE.

The End.

I use Firefox.

[Liberal Veteran]

31. Good lord...you poor man!

The therapy from using IE must have been quite extensive!