Opera 6.05 released [Archive] - Wilders Security Forums

crockett

August 13th, 2002, 11:48 PM

Hi guys;

It seems by now we're all bouncing back and forth between this link and the other one related to Opera.

Could we all agree to use one or the other ? I don't care which one as long as we can group the relevant dialogs in one single place...

Clearer for us and definitely easier for anyone who might get interested in getting to know Opera better starting from scratch.

Root, you're probably the most Opera-experienced writer on these two threads.

If it's ok for everybody, I suggest we all go on posting on Opera following Root's next post ?!... Maybe some explanation as regards the dslreport's forum thread you mentioned - can't connect to it (broken link!?) ?

If all this seems irrelevant to any of you, we may choose not to change anything and proceed like before.

Let me know about that.

Rgds, Crockett :)

snapdragin

August 14th, 2002, 01:27 AM

yes Crockett, i think that would be a good idea, i know i was starting to get confused as to what thread to keep track of.

just to add to this thread for Mike - i was able to d/l the Java 1.4 from the link that Root posted, even went back to double check that i received the full file, which i did, and noticed that it said on the d/l page that you could only d/l it once from that page....i though oh well, let's see if that's true, so i tried d/l'ing it again and it was going to d/l with no problem (i was using Opera at the time without java/javascript enabled.) Maybe the server was just busy earlier?

btw...spy1 also has used Opera for quite some time and helped me with my settings when i had trouble posting on Yabb boards, not sure what version or what plugins he uses now, but maybe he might be able to add something about the java 1.4? i am not going to install it yet though, until i see what is said at the link Root posted, if i can get to it. :)

snap

FanJ

August 14th, 2002, 04:16 AM

Hi,

I fixed the url to that DSLR thread:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,4119756~root=security,1~mode=flat

root

August 14th, 2002, 09:36 AM

Ok, as far as I'm concerned we can just go with this thread.
I finally got Java 1.4 downloaded at 10 last night (56k) and uninstalled 1.3 before I installed 1.4 this morning. No problems encountered with the download.
One important thing to note - the following is from the Opera Plug-Ins page about Java Plug-In. Please also note that on the Java site, it says to uninstall previous versions before installing 1.4.

Java Runtime Enviroment

4.x Opera 4.0 introduces embedded support for Java applets. Instead of using the plug-in software, Opera 4x is invoking the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) directly to run applets. On the download page, users are given the option of downloading a version of Opera 4.0 which has the JRE bundled, or a version which does not have the JRE bundled. The JRE can be downloaded separately, as described below. It is not possible to use any version of the plug-in.

Download JRE from http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/jre/download-windows.html. Versions of JRE older than 1.2 are not supported. If you don't have JRE installed or if it is an older version, you will get a pop-up message which tells you that. If you had previously installed the java plug-in version 1.2 or later a supported version of the JRE should already be installed.
Double-click the downloaded file to start the installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Java Runtime Enviroment.
Preferences- Under Preferences->Multimedia we have added an "Enable Java" check-box for enabling/ disabling Java. Java is enabled by default. The check-box is greyed out if JRE is not installed.
Opera.ini- A new section - [JAVA] - has been added to the opera.ini file. If you have made a custom opera.ini you have to copy the [JAVA] section entries from the opera.ini installed by Opera. You should not change any of the Java settings. The installation sets the correct paths according to the opera.jar and opera.policy files.

The new section should look like:

[JAVA]
OPERA CLASSPATH=C:\Program files\Opera\Classes\Opera.jar
SECURITY POLICY=C:\Program Files\Opera\Classes\Opera.policy
Enabled=1

Well, I checked the Opera.ini file and it only said Enabled=1 under [Java], so I added the other two lines and saved.
Looks like everything is fine. I think this thread and the other one make things look worse than they are. There really isn't any major problem with anything here.

snapdragin

August 14th, 2002, 11:39 PM

hi root!

i agree, i haven't had any problems at all with Opera, the d/l'ing, installing, or updating the JAVA 1.4.

i am glad this thread is here though because i was a li'l unfamiliar with the JAVA end of it with Opera, and uninstalling and reinstalling can make the world of difference if it's done wrong.

i followed what you had posted above; uninstalled JAVA 1.3 then reinstalled 1.4, checked my Opera's "About" and it listed the newly installed Java 1.4 so everything looked as it should, no settings changed or anything.

the only thing that i was unsure of when i was installing the JAVA 1.4 was during installation it had a check-mark Internet Explorer making it the default browser for JAVA (the other only option was Netscape, which i don't have on this pc)....so since i use it with Opera, i unchecked the box....so far everthing seems ok. (got a Java Web Start icon on my desktop too but there didn't seem to be any option for that during installation.)

i also checked my Opera6.ini to see if i was missing those two lines too, but this is what i had under the JAVA section:

[Java]
Opera Classpath=C:\Program Files\Opera\Classes\Opera.jar;C:\Program Files\Opera\Classes\lc.jar
Security Policy=C:\Program Files\Opera\Classes\Opera.policy
Enabled=1

(seems i have an extra line there: lc.jar)

i think the reason my Opera6.ini still had the two lines your's was missing was maybe because i didn't uninstall Opera 6.04, i just installed 6.05 over top of it. :)

thanks for the thread....it's been great help! :D

Mike_Healan

August 15th, 2002, 02:22 AM

Bump

*** points at his edit in the first post

crockett

August 15th, 2002, 02:35 AM

Hello guys;

Well, it seems I'm the only one still having trouble downloading JRE 1.4 ! Just can't figure out why.

Maybe it will work when the server is less busy - it finally worked for you, so I keep my hopes high.

Still surprising no mirror-site is available...

Anyway - this thread is kind of becoming 'JRE 1.4-thread' - let's not forget about Opera.

What's important to me is not really the JRE in itself.

I wanted to be sure everyone is aware JRE1.4 was the version to be installed for those who can't go without Java.

I also would like to pinpoint this again: Opera, as already mentioned, DOES function perfectly well without Java, and is even considered by some security specialists as extremely/especially secure WITHOUT JRE.

So, the 'ideal' configuration might be to have JRE installed in case one might need it, but have it disabled most of the time by unchecking the 'enable Java ' option in the 'Quick preferences' menu.

What do you think ?

Since so many Opera users agree on the essential points (Opera is fast, efficient, reliable, easy to use, secure, etc.), still nobody having any idea why Opera is so little recommended/talked about on security- and software-sites ?

Maybe because it is presented as 'adware' - a word awakening negative associations in most people?!...

Crockett 8)

crockett

August 18th, 2002, 02:46 PM

-{ Quote: " quoting: the Tester link=board=9;threadid=2919;start=15#20925 date=1029638116]
At the risk of showing my lack of experience/knowledge here,I have a few questions regarding Opera.I am considering replacing IE6 with Opera.What will I lose if anything as far as messenger and mail services?Will I be able to use msn services like hotmail and windows messenger?I have Roboform auto filler and it is under the explorer bar at top of screen,will I still be able to use that form filler?How hard is the install process?Does Opera work well with all known security programs?Does it work with trillian?Do internet sweeper type programs work with Opera also?I have a H/P pavillion with xp home as os.What do you all think?I am security-conscious and no doubt Opera is more secure.Is it worth the change in regards to,could I screw the installation up?LOL Thanks for any patience to this long-winded,million question post.
" }-

Hi Tester...

You said it - lots of questions:)

Opera being a webbrowser and Hotmail being a mail-account, you shouldn't have any trouble to send/download mails.

In general, Opera works very well with the vast majority of security programs - firewalls, av's, at's, activity-monitors, file-wipers, etc.

Some of the more Micro$oft-specific services may not work - of that I don't know. Opera developers make continuous efforts to produce as universal a browser as possible, so I guess you'll be surprised to see you don't have to abandon many of your favorite tools and surfing habits.

But you'll have to test Opera by yourself and, why not, report on your results so we can all learn from your experiences.

One thing you might begin with would be to d/l Opera 6.05 and start testing it (you're called 'The Tester', aren't you ?). Just step inside and get yourself to discover and perhaps appreciate it. Take your time, do it at your own pace - that's the way we all got to adopt it.

Discovering a new, exciting software and approaching mastery of it step-by-step is one of the most rewarding and funny experiences I know of on the Web.

Also, remember you don't "have to" like it - just do what seems best to you once you have the knowledge to decide from.

Now a good news - you can begin to do all that without changing anything else, meaning you don't have to uninstall IE6. Those two browsers don't have any problem co-existing on a single machine. So you can try some services on Opera and still use IE as long as you don't know how to use the others.

What I mean by all this is that the only way to know which programs are gonna continue working well with Opera is to give it a try and see by yourself.

Sorry I don't have a ready-made answer, but all configurations are somewhat different, and each user has his own set of expectations and demands. Yours aren't mine, nor anyone else's. And vice-versa.

Having said that, maybe other members are now navigating a configuration and using various tools which may be very much like yours - if so, they'll probably give you more specific informations.

Since I'm a fierce fan of Opera, and since you didn't have any reply to your post yet (always a saddening sight), I thought I'd write you these few words until someone else might come along with more precisions.

Anyway, don't be afraid to compare - give Opera a try, get your own answers and... enjoy.

Rgds, Crockett 8)

the Tester

August 18th, 2002, 03:16 PM

Crockett.Thanks for the reply.I have been following this thread for a while and I "bit the bullett" last night and d/l ed opera 6.05.A lot of questions were answered thru testing different programs.All messenger programs seem to work fine.I haven't tried my security programs other than Sygate.But I usually download on-line and don't usually scan when I'm surfing.I do know that my Trojan Hunter Guard and NOD32 monitor run yet.While I haven't got Opera operation all figured out yet,I can say this:I like it!!!It is faster than IE6.It seems user friendly.I have to work on setting it up for internet security yet(configure it).I know IE6 was a pain in that department.This is new to me,but you are right,it is an exciting little browser and it kicks IE6 in many ways!Being that I am the Tester,I gotta play with it some more to figure it all out.Thanks to you and all the posters that have experience with Opera.I appreciate your links and info. that you all posted.

NewB

August 20th, 2002, 08:22 PM

Hello2UAll!

I just started trying out Opera recently also. Its a pretty cool browser! Some web pages do look a little different sometimes compared to IE , but its no biggy.

I had a problem though trying sygate's scan @ http://scan.sygate.com

It wont allow me to do the scan like i can with IE, it pops up a message that says 'Access to this port is disabled for security reasons'.

Anyone else having this problem? or know of a solution?

Appreciate it.
NewB

NewB

August 20th, 2002, 08:28 PM

BTW: Im using Look'n'Stop firewall along with Proxomitron with Opera 6.05 without java.

Paul Wilders

August 20th, 2002, 08:36 PM

Hi NewB,

-{ Quote: "Anyone else having this problem? or know of a solution?" }-

I wouldn't regard this as a problem; on the contrary.

-{ Quote: "BTW: Im using Look'n'Stop firewall along with Proxomitron with Opera 6.05 without java." }-

I've seen far worse! - no kidding: those two are assets without any doubt.

regards.

paul

snapdragin

August 21st, 2002, 02:31 AM

Hi NewB!

i am using Opera 6.05, with SunJava Environment 1.4, and i just tried the scans at Sygate too......and no matter what settings i changed....java enabled...javascript enabled, etc., each and every time it stopped them with the "Access to this port is disabled for security reasons"

now that leaves ya with a nice feeling! ;D

i don't use Proxomitron, but i do use Sygate Personal Firewall 5, and a D-Link router w/firewall on an XP-Home, and XP's internal firewall disabled.

when i used IE6, it all came up stealth...but i would have preferred IE gave that message i got with Opera instead.

snap

crockett

August 21st, 2002, 03:02 AM

Hello guys;

Snap', my dsl connection is down for the time being - can't chek these sygate tests by myself right now...

Do the previous posts mean that the tests won't get initiated at all when tried on Opera, or that the tests are stopped at some point or on some specific port being scanned ?

Anything different from previous results you may have had in the past on the same testing-site ?

Crockett

NewB

August 21st, 2002, 07:53 PM

Hi Paul & Snap

Snap thanks for checking & reporting your results. I wasnt sure if it was just something in my Opera settings i had disabled or what exactly. Sounds like its pretty much built into the security of the browser.

It is nice to finally find a browser that actually cares about security! :)

Thanks again guys.

Paul Wilders

August 21st, 2002, 08:11 PM

Hi NewB,

My pleasure ;)

regards.

paul

snapdragin

August 22nd, 2002, 12:18 AM

Hi Crocket!

Your question got me wondering the same thing about what is actually being stopped....the scan due to the browser (Opera) just stopping it, or is Opera actually saying i am stealth or ports blocked, etc., because i am using Opera?

So i went back with IE6 and went through ALL the scans again with IE6's internet settings on total block and just using what i would normally surf with: NOD's Amon, NOD's POP3 for OE, AdWatch, TrojanHunter (i didn't have TDS3 running), and Sygate Firewall ver 5 (free), and everything showed as BLOCKED but these:

WEB 80 CLOSED - This port has responded to our probes. This means that you are not running any application on this port, but it is still possible for someone to crash your computer through known TCP/IP stack vulnerabilities.

IDENT 113 CLOSED - This port has responded to our probes. This means that you are not running any application on this port, but it is still possible for someone to crash your computer through known TCP/IP stack vulnerabilities.

SOURCE PORT 64958 CLOSED

Results from scan of ICMP at TCP/IP address: xx.xx.xx.xxx
Protocol Type Status Additional Information:
ICMP 8 OPEN - An ICMP ping request is usually used to test Internet access. However, an attacker can use it to determine if your computer is available and what OS you are running. This gives him valuable information when he is determining what type of attack to use against you.

(note: the ICMP scan isn't enabled there yet)

Then i opened Opera again, went back and re-tried ALL the scans. i was able to click on the type of scan listed to the left of the page, which would tell me about what the scan would do, but as soon as i would click on the scan button at the bottom to initilize the scan, the "Access to this port is disabled for security reasons" would pop up and stop it.

i couldn't even do the PreScan so it could determine the IP # to scan.

so now i am a li'l confused...LOL
is Opera giving a false sense of security when it pops up that warning, and one goes away thinking for "security reasons" these scans were not allowed, therefore, they are stealth and safe when they use Opera? Or, are these ports that i've listed above still sitting there closed or open?

just wondering here...

snap

*the above still done behind the router/firewall on XP-Home, and with Sygate's Personal Firewall settings at default, no rules applied.

*corrected the description about when the popup warning would happen with Opera. sorry.

root

August 22nd, 2002, 10:30 PM

Guys and Gals, I have found Sugates scans to be very unrleliable lately. It will give false reports of open ports.
I tried it myself and it said I had several ports open, and I know I didn't. Doublechecked with many other scan sites.
Others have been reporting similar problems.
Sygate needs to look into why the false open port readings.

crockett

August 23rd, 2002, 02:57 AM

Root;

Did you manage to enter Sygate's testing procedures using Opera ?

If so, how did you bypass the 'Access to this port is disabled for security reasons'-Opera message ? (http://scan.sygate.com:443/cgi-bin/probe/quickscan.cgi)

How could we even explain Opera refused to enter the procedure ?

Crockett

crockett

August 23rd, 2002, 03:02 AM

BTW, seems a lot of people are pretty much interested in Opera...

As for now, this thread plus the one entitled 'Opera Web Browser' amount for a total of... 688 views !!

Very happy with that :)

Seems we could send various software-sites webmasters a link to these two threads so they can see there's definitely a need for infos about Opera.

Paul, not sure if you would allow me to use a link to this thread as suggested above ?

Crockett

Paul Wilders

August 23rd, 2002, 04:00 AM

Crockett,

-{ Quote: "Paul, not sure if you would allow me to use a link to this thread as suggested above ?" }-

No need to ask permission for that - happens all the time and it's just OK ;)

regards.

paul

Prince_Serendip

August 23rd, 2002, 04:28 AM

:) Hi Crockett and Paul! I d/led Opera 6.05 yesterday. I've been using v6.03 as an alternate browser for a couple weeks now. It has Java 1.3 and previously I was unable to get Java 1.4. I gather that Opera 6.05 comes with Java 1.4 (the coffee version). Good! (Java 1.3 likes to crash.)

One of the features I especially like about Opera is I can search my own bookmarks. I have hundreds of bookmarks and sometimes I forget which folder I put them in. That's really handy! You can also import your bookmarks from IE. It's an excellent browser!

crockett

August 23rd, 2002, 04:40 AM

Hi Prince; nice to hear from you.

Not sure Opera 6.05 does come with JRE 1.4 embedded.

Check it out in your ProgramsFiles/Java folder to make sure.

Could you report on it here?

BTW, second-thought about the possibility to send Webmasters a link to these two Opera-threads without it becoming kind of spamming. Not sure how it might be done...

Rgds, Crockett 8)

Prince_Serendip

August 23rd, 2002, 11:16 AM

:) Hi Crockett! Installed and now running Opera 6.05. I cannot find the keys for Java and Javascript but it appears to be doing okay so far. I uninstalled v6.03 but it left the Opera Folder. I dropped the 6.05 into the old folder. I also uninstalled Java 1.3.1 only to discover on install that I didn't need to do so. Opera 6.05 comes with Java 1.3.1, NOT v1.4. Maybe the new one will work better than the last one did? Do you still have those links to get v1.4?

As for your secondary thought: Which webmaster? I'm afraid I have to admit to ignorance on that.

Prince_Serendip

August 23rd, 2002, 11:20 AM

When I made the above post the Post/Submit form appeared to freeze/hang, yet it posted it anyway. Weird!

crockett

August 23rd, 2002, 02:42 PM

Prince, hello again;

Please see this yesterday-posted quote as far as webmasters are concerned.

-{ Quote: " quoting: Crockett link=board=9;threadid=2992;start=#21557 date=1030086148]

As for now, this thread plus the one entitled 'Opera Web Browser' amount for a total of... 688 views !!

Seems we could send various software-sites webmasters a link to these two threads so they can see there's definitely a need for infos about Opera.

Crockett
" }-

The link to JRE given by Root in a previous post was http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/download.html

French-speaking people can also try to dwl it from http://telecharger.01net.com/cgi-bin/Total.pl?searchstring=jre&system=windows&x=0&y=0

Guys and girls, since dwl JRE 1.4 seems to be difficult under certain circumstances or from certain OS or locations, please share the addresses you got your JRE 1.4 executable from if different from the two threats above.

Don't mention any further link if it was just a 'redirect'-one to an already-mentioned site.

Thanks,

Crockett 8)

MyNethingyman

August 23rd, 2002, 05:17 PM

Have not read all your thread..but a friend who has and is not a member suggests to some.....

"Maybe you could tell them to just uninstall WHATEVER java they have...then delete the folder...and then download JRE 1.4.001 or whatever it was...and then go to Opera settings and "Find plugins" and enable java.

Also, they should go to IE and disable MS java and enable JRE java."

Hope that helps someone>

crockett

August 23rd, 2002, 11:21 PM

Hi everybody;

Found a list of worldwide mirror sites where JRE 1.4 can be dwl from.

Please follow the link http://www.tucows.com/system/preview/194327.html

Rgds, Crockett 8)

snapdragin

August 24th, 2002, 03:07 PM

Well, i was not to happy with the scan results i received at Sygate's site, and with Opera not even allowing the scan, i thought i'd try some more tests, but this time i used PCFank http://www.pcflank.com/

While i was there i also did all the other scans with both browsers and i passed 100% on all of them. This sure looked better than the scan i did at Sygate; at least this time Opera allowed the scans, gave the IP# to scan (which is my router) and came out 100% using both IE and Opera browsers; no tojans, open or closed ports, no vulnerability to the exploits listed----everything came up stealth. ;D

But i will just list the scan results concerning the browser tests since this thread is not related to firewalls.

Browser Test using IE6 w/all updates - all settings in the internet zone on disabled, 1st party cookies set to prompt, which i blocked anyways & 3rd party cookies blocked. Profile Assistant not enabled. Advanced Settings - disabled the ones i knew about.

Browser Privacy Check - The test checked if your web browser reveals any private information while you visit Web sites. Usually such information is: the last site visited, your locale and who your Internet Service Provider is:

Results: Attention! Your browser is not private. Privacy is 50%. While visiting web sites your browser sends information about previous sites you have visited.

Cookies check - :) Your computer does not save special cookies on your hard drive.

Recommendation - Your browser (or firewall) set to block cookies so there is no risk to your privacy.

Referrer check - :( While visiting web sites your browser reveals private information (called 'referrer') about previous sites you have visited.

Recommendation - We advise you to get personal firewall software. If you already have a firewall program adjust it to block the distribution of such information (referrer)

Browser Test using Opera 6.5, JRE 1.4 installed - all security settings on high, no java or javascript enabled, Identity set as Mozilla 5.0, display received cookies, which i refused anyways, third party cookies set to refuse, personal identification pages left blank.

Privacy check results - :) Safe! Your browser reveals nothing.
Recommendation: - Your browser does not reveal any private information while you surf the Web.

Cookies check - :) Your computer does not save special cookies on your hard drive
Recommendation - Your browser (or firewall) set to block cookies so there is no risk to your privacy.

Referrer check - :) While visiting web sites your browser does not reveal private information (called 'referrer') about previous sites you have visited.
Recommendation - Your browser (or firewall) set to block referrer so there is no risk to your privacy.

i also did the Browser Privacy Test at http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/ with both browsers and passed 100% because i refused each popup.

hope the above might be helpful, but i am still at a loss why Opera wouldn't allow the scan at Sygate.

snap.
*just adding i don't use any cookie managing program, just the IE's and Opera's cookie settings, and i don't use any proxies.....my router is a D-Link and i have Sygate Personal Firewall 5 (free version)

Gnostic

August 24th, 2002, 08:58 PM

I d/l Opera 6.05 and installed over 5.11 with no problems. I d/l the java-free version. I like the clean look compared to IE and it is as fast as advertised (even over a modem). I like the pop-up manager and the built-in Google search. Printing is very important to me and Opera delivers without a hitch. It works well with ZA and my a/v and seemlessly uses Eudora. I have make it my default browser. I never used a more stable or fast browser.

crockett

September 3rd, 2002, 08:41 AM

:)Hi;

-{ Quote: " quoting: snapdragin link=board=9;threadid=2992;start=30#21698 date=1030216027]
hope the above might be helpful, but i am still at a loss why Opera wouldn't allow the scan at Sygate.

snap.
*just adding i don't use any cookie managing program, just the IE's and Opera's cookie settings, and i don't use any proxies.....my router is a D-Link and i have Sygate Personal Firewall 5 (free version)
" }-

From time to time, I kept going back to scan.sygate.com to try to figure out why Opera wouldn't allow for the scans to initiate.

I switched back to Kerio PF 2.1.4 and tried again. At some point, running Mozilla, KPF prompted me, asking if I would allow for some communication to go through port 443 when trying to start the scanning at Sygate. I answered yes, and could go through the entire testing procedure.

I then switched back to Opera, not changing anything in KPF. This time, Opera agreed to enter Sygate's site, but next still refused to allow for the tests to be performed.

That's when it finally hit me (better late than never) ;)

When doing the testing on scan.sygate.com, port 443 is used for the exchange. But no encryption happens at any time, despite port 443 usually being used for encrypted communications.

I believe it to be the reason why Opera 'detects' something is 'wrong'.

To Opera, port 443 may only be used for purposes it was meant to, i.e. encrypted exchanges. Since the communication doesn't call for Opera's encryption tools being used on port 443, Opera considers it to be some kind of violation, and blocks the exchange.

So it ain't some Opera's bug nor some strange 'alien behavior', but rather a well working security feature.

Bravo Opera. What a great browser...

What else is left to say ? ;)

Rgds, Crockett 8)

Tinribs

September 20th, 2002, 04:24 PM

Sorry for jumping in a bit late but I cant believe I missed this thread!!

I have been using Opera for a long time now, I love it.
Just wondering on the others views of the mail portion of Opera? I use it as my sole app but something has never 'sat right' in all this time,it just doesn't seem right,plus I dont like having the preview pane open, I have never seen how to disable it so a dbl click opens mail ala OE (yeuch)

crockett

September 23rd, 2002, 08:17 AM

Hello Tinribs;

Mail client is not the best part of Opera 6.05 and previous - no doubt about that.

The guys at Opera said Opera 7 will have much improved user interface and capabilities.

Having said that, presently receiving mail with Opera 6.05 has a nice flavor of security which is not to be found in Outlook or Outlook Express.

IMHO, it is currently only the outgoing 'compose mail' option which does not yet live up to Opera's high quality standard. Again, I believe this will be history once Opera 7 is released. It shouldn't be too long a wait...

Rgds, Crockett :)

Tinribs

September 23rd, 2002, 10:26 AM

Agree with you there Crocket, I love Opera, have recently given a good trial to Mozilla but I still find it sluggish and it feels 'heavy' somehow.
But Opera I always return to, it has a few quirks now and then but thats just its charm and usually poorly scripted sites,plus its not M$crosoft and its part of my master plan to get away from them totally one day.
Looking forward to 7 though.

Tinribs

September 23rd, 2002, 05:30 PM

Also on the earlier subject of inherent security, here is a link to look at, its a tad dated now, but have a read and especially pay attention to the 'referral blocking' section!!

What an eye opener, if I realised that was possible then I would have switched years earlier. :o

(Of course this may not be 'news' to all, but some here,including me, may be horrified.)

http://www.searchengineworld.com/opera/faceoff.htm

*edit, forgot the link ::)

crockett

September 23rd, 2002, 07:46 PM

Nice link, Tinribs.

Thanks,

Crockett 8)

snapdragin

September 23rd, 2002, 09:06 PM

was just reading that too Crockett! :)

thank you Tinribs!

i wonder if they were to up-date that chart and compare it now to IE6 with all the critical patches (sp1) etc., if there would be any noticable change in some areas? would be interesting to see, for sure! ;)

snap

crockett

September 24th, 2002, 09:15 AM

Hello :)

Right, Snap.

Would also be interesting to see if any further chart would be needed should the Opera team decide to make their product a pure freeware (i.e. no longer ad-supported).

Perhaps IE would then be in big trouble...

Funnily, one point I don't agree with in the chart has to do with IE and its cookie management features.

Sure it is not very simple, but as we all know it was part of a larger method to filter pages on several different criteria at the same time - Javascripts, Java, and so on, using 'Internet zones' to tailor-categorize each visited-site.

True, this method should have been coupled with some kind of assistant to simplify the process while real time surfing. That's one of the things ATGuard did when used in conjunction with IE back then.

In fact, this on-a-'zone'-basis filtering is the only feature I miss now I never use IE anymore.

Rgds, Crockett 8)

Phazor

September 24th, 2002, 08:40 PM

Was thinking of trying a different browser, and i keep jumping back and forth between opera and mozilla.
I was really interested in opera a few weeks ago and when i got to reading through their site, i found the section on ads and cydoor, it really turned me off and i started looking into mozilla.
I got pretty close to installing Moz and didnt, thought i would look into more and it seems moz has about as many bugs/fixes as IE.
I then came across this posting and saw the link for the site comparing the browsers, now im really interested again. But concered about all the ads and the cydoor thing.

How many of you people use the free (ad supported) version and how many of you use the pay for version. (ad free?)

Seems too depending on what board you vist, it could go either way on which browser to use.

It sounds like from what ive read that you cannot really ditch IE anyway (is that true). That you still need to use it for certain things.

And is it that IE just seems to have more bugs/fixes because more people use it than any other browser so you hear about all that stuff and more often. Whereas with opera and moz you dont hear about fixes as much because its not as well known?? (hope i explained that clearly).

I guess im just trying to come to some kind of a conclusion as to whether or not installing another piece of software (Browser) on my computer and then have to patch/update and maintain it. Or just try keeping the one im using patched and locked up as tight as i can (with more software) without having two browsers on my machine..

Thoughts...Comments....
Sorry to ramble on...

Phazor

crockett

September 24th, 2002, 09:54 PM

Hi Phazor;

As regards Opera and Cydoor, please follow this link
http://www.opera.com/privacy/adinfo.html

Opera won't slow down your system, so don't be afraid to give it a try.

Many of your questions are already answered in this present link's previous posts or in this second one:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=2919

Feel free to report on your future Opera experience...

Rgds, Crockett 8)

Tinribs

September 28th, 2002, 12:30 PM

Just in case you didnt know, the acclaimed Orbit skin for Mozilla is now available for Opera!!! Looks good too, comes with 2 different settings, I use it and love it.

view: http://www.deskmod.com/?show=showcat&cat_name=opera

Note from FanJ:
The direct download link was removed by me.
Please post no links that gives you a direct download; thanks ;) .
The other link gives you the opportunity to get to the page from where to download it.
Best regards, Jan.

the Tester

September 28th, 2002, 02:19 PM

Phazor. I use the free version of Opera.The banner ads don't bother me.Crockett urged me to try Opera,and I am glad that I did.It is more versatile than IE6,and fairly easy to run after a little bit of practice.I prefer programs that run easily "out of the box".I have noticed that Supercleaner doesn't find much to clean from Opera after surfing.IE6 racks up a lot more internet history garbage to clean.I also found that security settings are a lot easier to set up in Opera.I've been using it a lot more than IE6 and I haven't any problems to date.

crockett

September 28th, 2002, 02:44 PM

Hi guys; nice to see you :D

Amazing how this thread looks like it won't ever die :)

Tinribs, I didn't know about the Orbit skin for Opera. I just dwld it and you're right - looks great ! I think I'm gonna use it for some time and see which one I prefer.

Rgds, Crockett 8)

Tinribs

September 28th, 2002, 02:57 PM

Noticed something a bit strange today, Opera is using upwards of 28 meg according to Task Manager ? Its not the Orbit skin as I tried the default after a restart, normall it uses only 13/15 meg, this is with only one wondow/tab open ???
In fact I'm finding Mozilla using about the same so something is up.
Nothing new installed, nothing different, any ideas guys?
Minimised it still drops to practically nothing,but this is worrying as its turned into a hog in line with Moz.

crockett

September 29th, 2002, 07:23 PM

Hi Tinribs:)

Hard to tell...:-\

Do you perform these checks regularly ?

You don't seem to be positive about the fact it all started with the use of Orbit skin ?! If not, when do you think it first started ?

Root, any suggestion ?

Rgds, Crockett 8)

root

September 29th, 2002, 08:24 PM

Right now Opera is using 17 megs, with a peak of 58 megs. When I read this post yesterday, I looked and Opera was using 48 megs with a peak of 217 megs. I was using taskinfo and I'm on Win2K SP3.
Now, I tried clearing my cache and a couple of other things but it makes no difference. Why only 17 megs now? I've been online for hours, but I haven't downloaded anything today, but yesterday I had.
Maybe temp download files? I don't know. I'll keep an eye on it and when I see it get high again, I wil run windowwasher and clear out everything and see if it drops it.
Since I have 2k it really doesn't impact me. Thats why I have 2k, instead of 98lite. It is interesting though.
BTW, skin doesn't affect it much.

puff-m-d

September 29th, 2002, 08:50 PM

Hello all,

I believe, as in root's statement, this is from the cache and temp files.

When I start Opera "fresh" with all cache and temp files cleaned, I show 10 to 11 megs being used.

As I continue to browse and/or download files/images, this number seems to continually grow.

I have "automatic" enabled as to the cache in Opera but have not tried to limit it to a certain size under preferences>>History and Cache. I will try in the next few days to limit the cache size and see if this helps to control the amount of ram/resources that Opera uses.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Kent

Note: Just in the time that I have composed this reply, previewed it, added this note, and posted this reply, the size has increased from 10 megs to 15 megs.