I want to understand why opera is the safest browser of 2008. Is opera safer because it has less vulnerabilities? And how about noscript, won't that make firefox or any other gecko based browser a whole lot more secure? EDIT: I see opera and firefox are tied now. My question remains the same, what makes opera so safe, or even safer then firefox.
Opera is a lot safer by default because its less open with its layout engine but both have their problems. Firefox with noscript does make it safer but with the added hassle while opera is safer without hassles but it also means it doesn't work with some websites properly when viewing.
I would agree with several previous posters that there is no such thing as "safest browser". Users will argue to hell and back that the browser they're currently using is the best/safest. Then they, at some point in time, change a browser for some other and start defending that one, based on some PoC text they read on some site. The same is with AVs, firewalls, you name it. This is ridiculous. But to post a single word like "Opera" or "Firefox" without any explanation is even more ridiculous. This is not "what browser are you using" poll! I didn't vote...
I've never had a hijack while using Firefox, so that's good enough for me. I also like Firefox because of it's huge library of Add-ons and the very handy spell check as you type that I use. Firefox is the fastest Browser I have used by far, other browser make huge claims then their browser crawls along. Never had any problems with Opera either, but Firefox is my choice.
From a standpoint of fixing vulnerabilities, Opera typically has less advisories and is usually the quickest at releasing fixes that address these vulnerabilities. However, based on the reports at Secunia for 2008, it seems K-Meleon and Maxthon are the safest - 0 issues: Opera 9 - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/10615/ Firefox 3 - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/19089/ Firefox 2 - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12434/ IE7 - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12366/ IE6 - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/11/ Safari - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/17978/ K-Meleon - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/18580/ Maxthon - http://secunia.com/advisories/product/14876/ I would like to point out it is hard to compare these reports because some products have been out longer (ie. Opera 9 has been out longer than Firefox 3). But they do give you an idea about vulnerabilities that exist and what the vendor has not addressed.
For me Firefox with roboform is safer than Opera without. why Opera can't provide a decent password program I don't know.
After looking at Firefox 3.0.4, they have a lot of security add-ons available. It could very well be a tossup between Opera & Firefox depending on the user and add-ons.
I just feels safer using Firefox.However this link posted earlier in this thread seems very interesting.http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/securing_browser/
Hey, maybe you should email roboform and ask them when it will be compatible with opera? I dont see opera as the issue.
Opera's wand.dat is encrypted so I don't see it as an issue. The reason Maxthon and Kmeleon has 0 issues is due to the fact that the installed base is far less than Opera or FF, if we are to take that in perspective, Opera does its job well when it comes to security.
I tried wand and was not impressed. It may just be I'm too set in my ways. I do use Roboform all the time for credit card and debit card payments. May be wrong but I didn't think wand could handle that - I saw it as just a basic account and password program. As too the oringinal question - in practice it is difficult to say that one is safer than another. For many there will be little practical difference - the risks of surfing being greatly exagerated.
