Most secure: FF or Opera?

[Jo Ann]

Ok, my family has been using IE forever (we are currently using IE7). In order to maximize the security of our family PCs I'm strongly considering switching over to Firefox or Opera. Without consideration of any factor other than browsing-security, which is the more secure browser (and why)?

[Coolio10]

-{ Quote: "Ok, my family has been using IE forever (we are currently using IE7). In order to maximize the security of our family PCs I'm strongly considering switching over to Firefox or Opera. Without consideration of any factor other than browsing-security, which is the more secure browser (and why)?" }-
Opera is more secure due to it not being open-source.

[Cerxes]

The source for my incitement for prefering Opera instead of FF is Secunia (http://secunia.com/).

/C.

[ThunderZ]

ahhhh....the browser wars. The answer probably depends on how much tweaking you want to do. Out of the box probably Opera. (keep in mind this is being said by a FF user) At a slight risk of going off topic, have you thought about Sandboxie? You and yours can continue to run IE but in a quarantined environment so to speak. IE can also be adjusted for safer browsing though I have heard it is not a very user friendly process.

[Hugger]

Though I use FF the most, I do think Opera is more secure and faster. Also it is less customizable than FF.
I occasionally use IE7 when necessary. But I use IE7 Pro with it.
Enjoy.
Hugger

[Pedro]

Since you plan on installing for others, and it's windows, i would choose opera. They will fall in love with it and stick.
Firefox with some extensions is preferable imo, but only if the owner is willing to spend a few minutes understanding what's at stake. When that's not possible (95% cases ime), Opera.

Note that Opera is still in a niche. Being closed source, Secunia's numbers are probably off by a bit imo. Probably not much anyway.

Coolio10: you just wrote the typical flame bait i'm afraid. You're just wrong. That's my only reply.

[jrmhng]

-{ Quote: "Opera is more secure due to it not being open-source." }-

Yea, I was wondering if you are being serious or just satirizing the open source / closed source debate.

[Jo Ann]

-{ Quote: "ahhhh....the browser wars. The answer probably depends on how much tweaking you want to do. Out of the box probably Opera. (keep in mind this is being said by a FF user) At a slight risk of going off topic, have you thought about Sandboxie? You and yours can continue to run IE but in a quarantined environment so to speak. IE can also be adjusted for safer browsing though I have heard it is not a very user friendly process." }-
I did consider using Sandboxie with IE7, but concluded that it required certain operational disciplines that were 'too much' for other users in our household. :-\

Btw, I know I requested that consideration be given only to the issue of greater security, but I should ask a fundamental question... Can Opera (or FF) be used exclusively? What about downloading MS Windows/Office updates?

[Long View]

Firefox has the add on "Noscript" Have no idea how Opera handles this issue.
For some reason Roboform is not able to work with Opera. As I have been unable to find a better password and identities program that rules Opera out for me from a security point of view. If you look at my sig you will see that I don't have any anti-virus, anti-spyware, software firewall, hips........ and I have never been infected. Firefox + No script + adblock plus may have had something to do with this.

IE7 is needed for sometimes including windows/office updates.

keeping to your requirement for security only - have you looked at Returnil ? (free)

[ThunderZ]

-{ Quote: "I did consider using Sandboxie with IE7, but concluded that it required certain operational disciplines that were 'too much' for other users in our household. :-\" }-


Understood when "the other users" are involved. ;) I run the free version but really do not use it as my surfing habits have become less adventurous the older I get. :-[ I believe the paid for can be set up to force run certain programs automatically. Any time IE is launched it would be sandboxed by default.

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "What about downloading MS Windows/Office updates?" }-
Firefox has an extension for that, but i never used it. I wouldn't use it. Who knows what problems that brings.
Besides automatic updates (setting that asks before downloading), IE shouldn't be that needed.

I think people would love to use Opera regardless of security, if only they tried it. It's already set to provide an excellent browsing experience. Miles away from IE, believe me. Mouse gestures alone fell from heaven.

[lucas1985]

Well, you can hard-code winupdates in IE with a noaccess.rat (still supported in IE7?) and use FF/OP for everything else. Or use the IE Tab add-on for FF.
Which is most secure? I'd say FF if only for NoScript.

[Huupi]

If we are dependent on only open source,we would computerwise living in the stoneage,closed source rules,no doubt about that. Is it better for us as end users ,i dont think so !

We have to live by this reality that MS,Adobe among others can spend the money to buy massive amount of publicity and buy out high tech thirth party suppliers to merge and hiring the best coders available.
As example, to MS there are no serious contenders,not even Apple,let alone the open source community[Linux]. Worldwide these players pale to nothing,as i guess that MS own 95 % of marketshare.

Another reason is i guess that Windows is still the most userfriendly OS available,and in a way more '' open source '' then Apple.So MS will continue to dominate far into the future with no contenders on the horizon.

If you like it or not[and i don't like it]but it is an unavoidable market mechanism in an open capitalistic world.

[Pedro]

Huupi, Firefox or Opera?

[LoneWolf]

Firefox or Opera?
I'd say either would be a good choice.
More secure then IE.
Sandboxing any browser is an wise decision. :thumb:

[Huupi]

-{ Quote: "Huupi, Firefox or Opera?" }-

Your right, It was a litle thought fired up by the Coolio10 post. ;)

BTW Opera after many years of FF. Personally i like the speed gain most .Using no plugins or adons.

Have a solid trust in my virtual layers.

[Long View]

Sorry a bit OT ? how does Opera handle scripts ?

[DevilFrank]

-{ Quote: "Firefox or Opera?
I'd say either would be a good choice.
More secure then IE." }-

Really?
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20084105-Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-least-vulnerable-browser-in-Q4

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
Either one.
Choose what you like.
Mrk

[LoneWolf]

-{ Quote: "Really?
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20084105-Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-least-vulnerable-browser-in-Q4" }-

Yep!
From Secunia......Unpatched vulnerabilitys......as of the time and date of this post......
Opera (http://secunia.com/product/10615/) 0 unpatched
Firefox (http://secunia.com/product/12434/) 4 unpatched
IE6 (http://secunia.com/product/11/) 21 unpatched
IE7 (http://secunia.com/product/12366/) 7 unpatched
Opera does not even support activex so thats one thing less to worry about. ;D

[Pedro]

Those are the numbers, combined with how critical they are.

Even if IE7 was really better for a quarter, it would mean what, the first quarter ever? Then again, not even this time. Keep waiting..

[Dina]

-{ Quote: "Hello,
Either one.
Choose what you like.
Mrk" }-

best answer in this thread so far.

I'm tired of seeing fanboy talk esp when browsers are mentioned.

[SourMilk]

Like the posters above, Firefox with NoScript. I ain't afraid of no IFrame buffer overruns or javascript creepy crawlies. ;D

SourMilk out

[LoneWolf]

-{ Quote: "

I'm tired of seeing fanboy talk esp when browsers are mentioned." }-

It's called an opinion. ::)
I believe that's what the OP was looking for. ;D

[Dina]

-{ Quote: "It's called an opinion. ::)
I believe that's what the OP was looking for. ;D" }-

if you say so

[tisungho]

-{ Quote: "Sorry a bit OT ? how does Opera handle scripts ?" }-

Have Opera disable javascript globally, then you can enable it for a specific website which you trust.

[Long View]

-{ Quote: "Have Opera disable javascript globally, then you can enable it for a specific website which you trust." }-

Thanks - will give opera another go. I can't use if as my main browser but provided I can disable javascript it can do no harm as an alternate.

[midway40]

This (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Is-Internet-Explorer-Safer-than-Firefox-Opera-and-Safari-80051.shtml) will probably liven up this discussion ;D

[C.S.J]

i know this browser war keeps arising, and im always torn between the big 4 aswell.

these being:

Firefox
IE7
Safari
Opera

i think the following:

Safari is the fastest browser for me, has a basic interface but displays websites in a crisp-font showing ultra clear text.

Opera is probably the most secure and probably will continue to be so

Firefox is what i would call the 'cool-browser', it has a good GUI, a fast speed, good security and plenty of add-ons, but i always chop and change from firefox for different, but small reasons that just get on my nerves a few times.

IE7, sure... people flame at its security, however; its a very decent browser that offers a nice layout and everything an average user will need to 'browse' ;)

at the moment, im playing around with Safari but I, like you, change all the time because i simply cant decide.

i think for speed and the displays of websites, Safari gets my vote.
I think for security Opera gets the vote.
I think for addons and a general 'coolness', Firefox wins.
If you aint too bothered, but want a nice browser with nice GUI etc, IE7.

your thoughts?

[solcroft]

-{ Quote: "Safari is the fastest browser for me, has a basic interface but displays websites in a crisp-font showing ultra clear text. " }-
Whatever innoticeably marginal speed advantage Safari may have over Opera in rendering speed is more than nullified during real-life usage by its lack of shortcuts and general clunkiness. The UI is pretty, but lacks Opera's skinnability and functionality.

That's probably about it. Apple needs to design Safari to approach the handiness of Opera/Firefox, but before that it also really needs to train Safari to behave like a Windows browser first.

[C.S.J]

even though i aint a mac user, it feels right to me at the moment to use Safari on vista.

im used to it from my Iphone now, and it is a welcomed change, especially in browsing speed.

it doesnt have all the customizations that Opera and Firefox have, but its a pretty decent and fast browser.

I think they wont change the basic-looking GUI as i think they like their Mac-Look.

like i said, i never know the answer to the browser war as i change all the time myself, i wish someone would seriously make an un-biased comparsion/testing and maybe that would make my own mind up :D

[chrisretusn]

Most secure: Fx or Opera?

As secure as you make them. All of the browsers (including IE) can be made to run fairly secure. My advice is spend time using each one and then pick the browser Fx or Opera that suits you the best.

Don't get caught in the false sense of security that one browser is more secure that the other.

I have use both, I prefer Fx because I am the most familiar with the interface (Fx user since Phoenix) and like that I can add features using extensions. If fact I use the Secure Login (https://blueimp.net/mozilla/Secure%20Login/) extension which is similar to Opera's Wand login.

Nothing wrong with Opera, just that my preference is for Fx.

[Dieselman]

Sandboxie.................can be a pain to recover files all the time when you are a big downloader like me. I have tried Opera several time and don't care for it. As far as secure. Firefox with No Script and Ad Block Plus makes for very secure surfing. No Script especially. No videos,no ads, no nothing shows up unless you allow it.

[Long View]

Firefox + No script + Adblock plus + CS Lite + Roboform has been my set up for a long time. I know that some minimalists will say that this is way too much security but I don't like taking risks. :dry: