| Moving to the Linux desktop and Mozilla could solve IE security woes |
Jul. 13, 2004
 eWeek's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has the solution to the latest security scare using Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE)-- try Desktop Linux. Vaughan-Nichols compares responses to security exploits in Mozilla and IE, discussing an early July vulnerability in Mozilla that was discovered and fixed by July 7. Microsoft IE "bugs are still unfixed," laments Vaughan-Nichols. The article previews a few of the author's top Linux desktop picks and strategies for accessing legacy files and remaining compatible with your Microsoft data as you switch to Linux.
Security woes have plagued Internet Explorer in recent weeks. Governments, banks and other organizations, including US-CERT watchdog of vulnerabilities all issued statements following reports that a security flaw in IE could allow intruders to access personal and financical data. Ironically, a Microsoft-owned Slate website hosted an article featuring the benefits of moving to Mozilla's Firefox browser.
Alternatives to IE are available, and are gaining market as a result of users moving from IE. A few include Mozilla 1.7 and Firefox, both available for free download from Mozilla.org, and also Norway's Opera 7.5 from Opera Software, which costs US $39 for an ad-free version.
Mozilla Foundation spokesman Bart Decrem told USA Today that the Mozilla project is "receiving more than 200,000 downloads some days" for Mozilla and Firefox web browsers. The article quotes Rolf Assev, marketing vice president of Opera Software, who "says sales of its desktop browser have tripled the past two to three weeks."
Over the last month, San Diego firm WebSideStory noted an approximate one percent drop in the IE market.
Read the eWeek article about moving to the Linux Desktop here.
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