I have quite an interest in Internet browsers, and after a discussion about them in another thread I thought I'd create a topic about them here. (I didn't want to hijack Dudeflame's thread!)

What Web browser do you use and why? I use Firefox 1.5.0.1. I've been using Firefox for ages and love it. I also have Opera as a backup and AOL's browser for Microsoft Updates. I don't use IE at all.

Also, for Firefox users, what extensions do you have? Here's my list, but be warned- it goes on and ON!

Adblock
Adblock Filterset G Updater
All-In-One-Sidebar
Anonymouser
Answers
Bookmark Duplicate Detector
Calculator
Crash Recovery
Customize Google
Fasterfox
Flags
Google Toolbar
Gmail Delete Button
Minimize to Tray
Mouse Gestures
Mozilla Calender
Nuke Anything Enhanced
Open Link In
PDF Download
Scrapbook
Screengrab
SmileyXtra
Stop-or-Reload Button
Streetmap
Target Alert
WellRounded
Who Is This Person
Yahoo Toolbar

And that's it! Over to you.....................

I use Firefox because you don't get spyware issues as much. The thing with IE is that it has active x which is where most Spyware comes from. As for firefox extensions i dont use any.

Snap- spyware is a huge problem with IE, that's why I use Firefox as well. Since I started using Firefox I've had no problems with spyware at all, compared to the many, many problems when I used IE/AOL's browser. ActiveX is a worry too, though Firefox doesn't even support it so we're safe!

If I want to use a browser in a hurry for not very long and won't need any of my extensions I fire Opera up, but that's not very often. I did go a bit mad with the extensions! I do use most of them all the time and I'd be lost without most of them.

Firebox as well, but some flash games don't work on mine. Otherwise it's ok. No dirty hackers...

I use the Fox too, it's just a lot better than IE, but some sites don't work for me on FF, so I have to use IE sometimes.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

I do find it interesting to hear what browsers folk use and their reasons for doing so. Firefox is just brilliant in so many ways, from its security to its customization abilities and loads more. It's miles ahead of IE; though IE7 has tabbed browsing abilities and a built-in search-bar there will still be the security implications, and when I beta tested it a couple of weeks ago it was still terribly slow.

Firefox is great and can only get greater. I believe the next big update (1.5.0.2) is scheduled for early April sometime.

All we need now is a mini version for mobile phones (like Opera Mini) and I'll be fully browser happy!

I do have firefox installed but I feel much more at home using IE, IE seems quicker to me. Spyware isnt usually a problem these days, I have a decent AV installed and I only visit a handful of sites which I trust.

Well you can get spyware without even knowing it. Trust me and there seems to me to be a bit of a debate between using the Fox and the IE.

So i am running (another) podcast dedicated to computing and technology. Its called Geek Speak Week and the topic this week is Spyware (releases Friday).

That's very, very true. You don't even have to download anything to get spyware. One false move on the Internet and before you know it every letter you type's being sent to Russia. Firefox isn't totally safe, as no browser is, but it's an awful lot safer than IE.

I run a few anti-spyware programmes and I run most of them at least once a week. In my anti-spyware armoury I've got:

Microsoft Anti-spyware
Ad-Aware
Spybot Searh and Destroy
SpywareBlaster
AOL anti-spyware
Yahoo anti-spyware

Plus the firewall and anti-virus software. I also run Safety Live on the Microsoft site now and again.

Well, you can't be too careful, can you?!

lol, thats a hell of a lot of software, you must be paranoid!

I have had major spyware problems in the past and I know what a pain in the arse it can be!

In my experience, if your infected with spyware you sure as hell know about it! Once infected, the only true way to become spyware free is to completley re-format your HDD and start again.

There's no such thing as paranoia when it comes to protecting the PC!

I do a lot of browsing when I'm on the Internet- it's not unusual for me to have ten or more tabs open in Firefox, and I do visit lots of new sites, so it would be easy for me to pick something nasty up on my travels. I've had spyware problems in the past too, but since moving over to Firefox I've not really had much spyware to speak of, just the odd unwanted tracking cookie. I really did have LOADS of spyware problems when using IE/AOL's browser.

Im going to start using firefox for a while, see if I can warm to it.

I found it really easy to get used to. Since I got Firefox, browsing the Internet has gotten lots more fun, safe and interesting. It's so very easy to customize too, so you can have it the way you want it. There's more themes and extensions and search engines available than you can shake a copy of Web User magazine at!

I can't be arsed with all them extensions for Firefox. I use IE.

Firstly you don't need to use Extensions in the 'Fox' and IE is the most unsafe browser. Infact someone did a test recently in IE and within 5 seconds he attracted a virus and 2 pieces of spyware.

Psichonico's correct: you don't need to download any extensions to use Firefox; they're just there if you want them. I have lots of them because they make certain tasks a little easier, and enhance the entire Web browsing experience. IE is very unsafe and I speak from experience on that. I've gone from having loads of spyware at one point to having none now. (As far as I'm aware!)

Another advantage of Firefox is that you can browse multiple websites at the same time in the same browser window; I have six different websites open now. True, IE7 has tabbed browsing, but I've tried IE7b2 and I wasn't impressed- beta though it is.

Been using AOL explorer for some time now, very impressed;

http://www.download.com/AOL-Explorer/30 ... ag=lst-0-1

I believe the AOL Explorer is built on the IE Browser shell. Wikipedia lists it as so here.

AOL is my ISP, and they have caused me so much trouble these last couple of days it's untrue. I believe a change of ISP is due very soon!

I use an aol one as well!! ! Its alright at first I had some problems!! but now its fine!

AOL's very much hit and miss, I think. I've been with them for nearly two years without a single problem, and then the other day everything went slightly wrong. Hopefully things will be sorted some time next week. If not I'll be setting fire to my hard drive.