We’re talking this month about web browsers, specifically “anything but Internet Explorer”. More and more information technology (IT) managers are advising their clients and charges to switch to alternative browsers. Why? Because Internet Explorer (IE) has become a beckoning, welcoming portal to all kinds of nasty security issues on the Windows platform. The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, a partnership between the tech industry and Homeland Security, recently advised people to consider switching browsers. Whether or not you do, US-CERT advises increasing your Internet Explorer security settings per instructions that can be found on Microsoft’s website. Just this week, other security firms issued similar advisories.

In addition to the security issues, Microsoft does not appear to be aggressively updating IE to keep it “current” with the rapidly-changing Internet. In terms of features that improve the user experience, other browsers are passing IE by. Before we get into the specifics of individual browsers, let’s review some of the “new” features to look for when choosing a new “window on the world”. Last time we discussed two must-have features: pop-up window blocking and tabbed browsing. You’ll also want to choose a browser that has some kind of integrated search capability.

There are many fine search engines out there to help organize the Internet for you. Some alternative browsers have a window, always present in the Toolbar, which is a direct link to a search engine like Google. Rather than going to the Google website and beginning your search, you just enter what you’re searching for in the browser’s built-in Google search window, and you’re in business.

Next, you’ll want a new browser that will automatically and accurately import your Bookmarks, site passwords, history, and other settings from IE. As with anything “automatic”, you may have to do some “fine-tuning” yourself. In order to have your new browser establish a “relationship” with secure sites and other sites requiring a cookie, you may have to visit the site and re-enter your username/password or other information to create a cookie for the new browser.

OK, you forgot. What’s a cookie? A cookie is a piece of information that a web site you visit can place inside your web browser. Although it sounds somewhat nefarious, and can surely be abused, cookies in your browser can actually make life easier for you.

Let’s say you use a web site to manage a credit card. The first time you visit the site, you fill out a form requiring some personal information, and establish a username and password. Once the credit card site is convinced you are who you say you are, it deposits a cookie in your browser. The cookie is just a bunch of digital letters and numbers. The next time you visit the site and log in, the site looks into your browser for the cookie. If it finds the cookie, you can go right into the site without going through the original registration process all over again.

It’s important to remember that, depending on your operating system and the browser you use, that your usernames and passwords are managed and stored differently than cookies. Again, you may need to do some re-entering of usernames/passwords – another good reason to make sure you wrote them down somewhere.

Finally, your new browser should give you control over what happens when you, either consciously or unknowingly, download something through your Internet connection. Specifically, you should be able to tell your browser not to expand, open (or, for goodness sake, install) anything without your explicit approval.

© 2004 Peter F. Zimowski