Should you Switchfrom Internet Explorer

If you are a Windows Explorer User, you might have noticed a pop up on your desktop titled “An important choice to make: your browser”, offering you a choice of Browsers to install, or the option to stick with your current one.

The move follows the resolution in December ’09 of a number of long standing competition law issues between Microsoft and the European Commission. Internet Explorer (IE) is bundled with Windows as their default browser, but it was claimed that this move was anti-competitive. The EU argued that, because Windows has the most common operating system it was unfair that Microsoft force all those users to use IE without first informing them of their options. As a result, Microsoft is delivering a piece of software via their Windows Update system, providing a choice of browsers along with the links via which they can install an alternative.  

For those Internet Explorer Users who have never downloaded an alternative browser the question is surely, “should I switch?” Despite the hype around Internet Explorer in recent weeks regarding the Google hacks and vulnerabilities IE is in fact a pretty secure browser. I believe that IE (and indeed Microsoft) is a victim of its own success and it’s interesting that while Microsoft has been forced to offer other browsers, Apple can still offer their Safari browser on all of their devices by default.

Internet Explorer’s popularity attracts scores of hackers and with over 60% of the world’s computer users opting for IE they have a large playground within which to create a name for themselves. The frequency of hacking incidents actually tells us more about the number of people trying and nothing about the relative quality of IE versus alternatives like Firefox or Safari. Internet Explorer will be hacked more often simply because it’s a bigger target.

Should you switch? If you’ve had no issues with the browser then you have no immediate reason to do so. However if you choose to continue using IE ensure you upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer (IE8).  Regardless of what browser you opt for ensure you do the following: Run up to date antivirus and antispyware software; run Windows updates regularly; use a firewall; only visit ‘safe’ websites; and don’t download things you don’t trust or open email attachments you don’t recognise.

Happy Choosing!