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Web Browsers
Introduction & Overview

Table of Content:

• Deciding Which Web Browser To Use
  • Firefox - Our Favorite
• Add-Ons, Extensions, Plugins, Themes, ... - Extending Your Browser
• Mobile Devices Web Browsers
• Web Browser Security
• Web Browsers in our Test Center - (in Test Center)

Deciding Which Web Browser To Use

Update 2011-11-11: the web browsers market is moving at a very fast pace nowadays with some browsers coming out with new releases almost monthly (Firefox has gone from v4 to v9 in a few months during 2011, Chrome from v9 to v15 - so far - during 2011). For this we're holding off updating this area and provide a few links to general sources for your own research.

Browser	Developer	Supported OSs			Notes	PCMag Review Sep'09	PCMag Review Jun'10	Browsers @ PCMag (per Nov'11)
		Mac	Win	Linux
Chrome	Google	X	X	X		3.5 of 5 (v2.0)	4 of 5 (v5)	v14: 4.5 of 5 (EC)
Firefox (FF)	Mozilla	X	X	X		4.5 of 5 (v3.5)	4.5 of 5 (v3.6)	v8: 4 of 5
Internet Explorer (IE)	Microsoft	-	X	-	Win-only	4 of 5 (v8)	4 of 5 (v8)	v9: 4 of 5
Opera	Opera	X	X	X		4 of 5 (v9.5)	3.5 of 5 (v10.5)	v11.50: 4 of 5
Safari	Apple	X	X	-		4 of 5 (v4)	4 of 5 (v5)	v5.1: 4 of 5

General resources:

• internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/
• Browsers - at PCMag - http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,2806,4838,00.asp

Specific resources:

• Internet Explorer 9 is released: should you switch? (ZDNet 2011-03-14)
• IE9 Release Candidate review: will Microsoft's big browser bet pay off? (ZDNet 2011-02-10)
• The Best Browser: Summer 2010 Edition Roundup | PCMag.com (2010-06-28)
• Best Browsers 2010 . . . Five Browser Comparison (FilterJoe, 2010-06-09)
• Browser Roundup – Opera, Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer tested (2010-04-15)
• How to Choose the Best Web Browser Roundup | PCMag.com (2009-07-16)
• Five Best Web Browsers (lifehacker, Mar 2009)
• Five Reasons not to “Upgrade” to Windows’ Internet Explorer 9 (ZDNet, March 15, 2011)
  • be aware of 64-bit version!

• US-CERT Cyber Security Tip ST04-022 -- Understanding Your Computer: Web Browsers - extract:
  

  How do you choose a browser? A browser is usually included with the installation of your operating system, but you are not restricted to that choice. Some of the factors to consider when deciding which browser best suits your needs include compatibility - Does the browser work with your operating system? security - Do you feel that your browser offers you the level of security you want? ease of use - Are the menus and options easy to understand and use? functionality - Does the browser interpret web content correctly? If you need to install other plug-ins or devices to translate certain types of content, do they work? appeal - Do you find the interface and way the browser interprets web content visually appealing?

  
  
• Google how to survive the browser wars
• Google deciding which browser to use

• stratintell.biz/support/browsers/#BrowserRecommentations
• stratintell.biz/support/browsers/#BrowsersSideBySide

Firefox - Our Favorite

For power users and developers, Firefox offers lots of capabilties. Includuding the feature of adding more functionality using add-ons.

See jandp.biz/is/apps/firefox for more on Firefox and recommended add-ons.

Add-Ons, Extensions, Plugins, Themes, ... - Extending Your Browser

¹ Assume yes but unsure of exactly how mechanism works, how to get new plugins, etc.

• wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_(computing)
• wikipedia.org/wiki/Add-ons_for_Firefox
• wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_extension
• mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/#what-plugin
• mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

Mobile Devices Web Browsers

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_browser
• A List of Mobile Web Browsers - webtrends.about.com/od/mobileweb20/tp/list_of_mobile_web_browsers.htm
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone_Operating_Systems
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_operating_system
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Web

Web Browser Security

Check your browser for security

• Browserscope
  • www.browserscope.org/
  • Full list of browsers:www.browserscope.org/?category=summary&summary_results=None&v=3
• https://browsercheck.qualys.com/
• bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
• google.com/search?q=web+browser+vulnerabilities+tests
• Five tips for testing Web browser security (Aug 3, 2010) - blogs.techrepublic.com.com/five-tips/?p=229
• Encryption
  • Quick check of encryption - SSL Encryption Report - https://www.fortify.net/sslcheck.html
  • Very technical
    • What is the strongest encryption algorithm? - kellermansoftware.com/t-ArticleStrongestAlgo.aspx (2008) (local save)
    • 256-bit AES Encryption for SSL and TLS: Maximal Security - luxsci.com/blog/256-bit-aes-encryption-for-ssl-and-tls-maximal-security.html (local save)

Tips:

1. Always try to use latest version of which ever browser you're using.
   I.e. make sure automatic updating is enabled. Or if not, download and install manually as soon as possble whenever a new version is available.
2. Only enable features you're using / must have for your work etc. Disable the following if not required (e.g.):
   1. Flash - continuosly has a bad track record of security problems.
   2. JavaScript - this is more tricky, as many web sites require JavaScript to work properly (like our site).
   3. Java - maybe more for performance than security.
3. Consider adding add-ons to improve privacy and security. Some example add-ons for Mozilla Firefox include:
   1. Adblock Plus -
   2. McAfee SiteAdvisor - safe searching and browsing
   3. NoScript - control which sites that may execute scripts
   
   >> Browse all in the Privacy & Security category. Note: this is NOT comprehensive and some add-ons may exist in other places (such as McAfee SiteAdvisor)
   >> Also see jandp.biz/is/apps/firefox for more recommended add-ons for Firefox.
    
4. Be Careful Out There! Read URLs carefully for illicit redirections etc.

• Google searches:
  • safest web browser
  • how to make a web browser safer