God I hate spyware.

[psyno]

Mozilla: http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/
Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Opera: http://www.opera.com/

 

[blahblahblah]

For some bizarre reason, I still use IE. Which replacement browser is the best of the three?

Questions about the browsers
- Can I transfer my favorites over, or do I have to transfer them over manually?
- Does the google toolbar work with those browsers?
- Any serious bugs in them?
- Can they view any webpage? (I am worried about viewing secured pages)

 

[Asus]

I personally use Firefox because it is slim and fast. I find it more compatible with webpages over Opera. Firefox has a google search bar built-in but I don't know about the google bar as I've never used it. Favorites are imported during install. Built-in popup blocker as well.

There are only a few websites that won't open with Firefox such as WindowsUpdate and some Banking sites etc. I switch to IE when I need to view one of those webpages or I need to view a Flash webpage. I'd rather not install flash for Firefox, personal preference.

 

[psyno]

For some bizarre reason, I still use IE. Which replacement browser is the best of the three?

Depends on what you like, really. I prefer Opera for complete control, but I don't mind using Firefox, and I use Mozilla at school just because the others aren't installed and it's a pain to do it every time.

- Can I transfer my favorites over, or do I have to transfer them over manually?

Yes, all three can import them.

- Does the google toolbar work with those browsers?

No, but you won't need it. All three have integrated searching and pop-up blocking. I especially love how Opera does it.

- Any serious bugs in them?

Firefox is relatively new and not yet mature, but the Mozilla org is experienced and I haven't had any real problems with it. The Mozilla and Opera browsers on the other hand are quite mature. The largest problem is that web developers often don't stick to the standards and depend on propietary functionality of MSIE, which of course causes anamolies in other browsers. This isn't a flaw in any of the browsers, it's a relic of the MSIE/Navigator war really.

- Can they view any webpage? (I am worried about viewing secured pages)

Yes, all handle secure connections.

 

[blahblahblah]

Thanks. I downloaded Firefox and will install and set it up tommorow.

 

[psyno]

*sigh*

We ought to have a browser war thread soon.

 

[$pazmatazz]

Hijacking programs will do annoying things like change your startpage even after you've changed it.

1. Download Hijack This:

http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10227352.html?tag=lst-0-5

Do a scan and check and remove anything suspicious. Be careful though, as much of what Hijack This finds is quite normal, so don't just delete everything. Look for key words that sound like spyware. If all else fails, post a list of what the program has found and I'm sure someone here can tell you what to remove.

2. Download Spybot:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2

Follow the steps to backup your registry, search for and download updates and immunize your system. Do a full scan and remove everything found.

3. Download the trial of Spy Sweeper:

http://www.webroot.com

Make sure you update the definitions when it asks, because with the trial you can only do it once. Do a full scan and remove everything found.

4. If necessary download Ad-aware:

http://www.download.com/Ad-aware/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-1

and search for and remove all listed items. You may also need to download CWShredder

http://www.softpedia.com/public/scripts/downloadhero/10-17-150/

to remove the annoying hijacking program CoolWWWSearch.

 

[Janet Reno]

I use a combination of Norton Antivirus, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Search and Destroy and Spy Sweeper.

When the reveloution comes, as your god is my witness, the people who make and host spyware will be dragged from their homes into the streets, naked by their hair and shot.

Good times, good times! Though, I prefer the "brooming" method. Just take a simple everyday broom stick, preferably well aged West Virginia heavy oak, and swiftly thrash it violently and viciously in a two-hand over-head fashion, as if in an uncontrollable rage that has been pent up over years of excrutiating pain and torture, across his back. There, spyware now fixed!