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Firefox is a very small browser program, with few bells and whistles that come bundled with it. This creates not only a small footprint on your system's resources, which allows it to run much faster, it is also much easier to safeguard from attack because of this compact size. And because the source code for the browser is open source, there have been many, many useful attachments that have been and continue to be created that can be seamlessly integrated into the browser.
Another reason it is much faster and safer is that the Mozilla Corporation, which publishes the browser, has a team dedicated to patching flaws and exploits as soon as they are discovered. Microsoft usually only does this once at week at most for IE.
Here are some links to check out. Personally, I love the fact that it actually complies mostly to web standards, as opposed to IE which blatantly ingores them. It takes a lot of hacks for web designers to make websites work in IE. Oh yes, and I'd be LOST without AdBlock Plus and All-in-One gestures.
http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/01/firefox_vs_internet_explorer.html
http://www.gunlaug.no/contents/wd_1_09.html
http://www.zdnetasia.com/editorialdesk/0,39043722,39219440,00.htm
http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2005/12/rb_05_dec_02.html
As you can see from the last link, people who use firefox know why they like it. People who use IE are more ignorant and less likely to know what they are doing.
I don't know why it is different, but it is better as it doesn't let pop-ups invade your screen, it works better, it has better security and it is user-friendly (at least for me).
There may be more reasons that i am unaware of, but I love it.
Note that in order to keep download Windows update s from microsoft you still need to retain IE on your computer (which I could not get rid of anyway).
Historically, Firefox was faster and more secure than IE. Microsoft stagnated on developing IE for a long time while Firefox was constantly being worked on and updated. It's likely because of that that Firefox got the reputation of being safer. Microsoft was back on their heels, only releasing patches to fix security flaws in IE.
The latest version of IE is said to be better than previous ones by just about everyone who has tested it. But one review I read said that IE was still based on code that was inherently less safe than Firefox's.
THAT'S WHAT I READ -- don't give me a hard time if you don't agree. There may well be other writers who have said things to the contrary that I simply haven't read.
Firefox is faster and also has tabbed and private browsing features. The fact that you can personalize it is what makes it such a cool browser. Plus you get lots of themes and extensions with Firefox. Some of my favorite Firefox extensions are Screengrab, Billeo and Read it Later.
Do you have a pornographic website open on another tab right now?
by Troy_W5542 on October 25th, 2011
| 2 people like this
I found an installer(offline) for Google Chrome browser. Why doesn't Chrome just
have one as part of the application? The app worked fine.
by einsteinwasright0116 on December 11th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Why do you hate toolbars when you using any web browers?
by XT on December 9th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Do you think web developers love to throw around their power?
by Mister_Bromide on December 2nd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Do you surf the web in private?
by XT on December 7th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading What makes Firefox so different from IE? How and why is it better?
Comments
Actually, Firefox is a RAM hog - I caught it using 65k today. But your other points are good. Maybe IE is even worse - but compared to Opera / Safari, it uses a lot of memory.
by EL1 2 on December 30th, 2006
I've been working on a PC, so I can't really speak to Safari. Opera, on the other hand, is another marvel! I love that browser, too. I even use OperaMini on my cell phone.
by teknimage on December 30th, 2006
I would use it - but it REALLY slaughters Google Reader.
by EL1 2 on December 30th, 2006
Which? Opera?
by teknimage on December 30th, 2006
Yes.
by EL1 2 on December 30th, 2006
What makes FF safest is that it is not intertwined with Windows. IE has privileged access to a variety of dangerous tools (Active X for example). FF does not.
by Karl Plesz on December 31st, 2006
Exactly. It operates through a single port. Unlike Windows/IE/Messenger.
by teknimage on December 31st, 2006
Nice answer.
by Jodie44 on January 17th, 2007