A Better Browsing With Firefox 3

If cannot get enough of Firefox 2 with its cool features and superb browsing performance, then Firefox 3 will promise you more on their latest full upgrade version of this open source web browser.

Mozilla Firefox has redefined browsing experience with its tab format that has never been introduced in any web browsers. This would give users some leverage in browsing wherein one window in the task bar appearing while multiples of sites can be loaded in just one setting. And that is not all. Users can browse links of another web page through the tabs without attempting to open another application. This can save browsing time as Firefox would not load another application anymore just to open the new page. Instead, a new tab will appear for the new link making browsing in web faster and easier.

Firefox has also added other features like the incremental find, and live book marking making for an easy web browsing through contents and at the same time having adding convenience to the browsers. Also, Firefox can support a lot of web format standards including the Web 2.0 latest applications like the CSS, ECMASScript and lot more. With its flexibility and easy to use, it is no wonder that Firefox has a fair share in terms of web browsers. It has been the second most widely used web browsers next to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. And the good thing about Firefox is that it is for free. It can run in any operating systems without any signs of conflicts.

Firefox promised more on adherents with the soon to release Mozilla Firefox 3. Now on its Beta 5 release, Mozilla Firefox 3 has improved the web browsing experience with the promise of being taunted as the de facto Standard of web browsers making its position unassailable.

Firefox 3's Gecko Web platform version 1.9 has been developed for more than 2 years with its major architectural restructuring and at the same time enhancing its performance and stability. With its new reengineering, browsers will surely be satisfied on the speed and at the same time with added customized features, one's browsing experience will surely be at home with one's sense of style.

A highlight of Firefox 3's enhancement is its graphic user interface or the GUI. This would give browsers a total web browsing experience that cannot be offered by other open source browsers around.

Security enhancement is one of the highlight in this version. The current version has one-click site information. Browsers can readily get the website information protecting them from harmful and anonymous websites. Also, a site favicon button will indicate the name of the company ensuring browsers that they are not being redirected by hacked websites.

In terms of virus protection, that would be easily remedied by its malware protection features. A warning will prompt browsers when visiting a site known for its Trojan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1163397

Firefox Lag - Why Firefox Lags, How Do I Fix It?

Is Firefox your favorite web browser? No doubt it is one of the efficient web browsers available online. However, due to some internal errors such as the registry errors the computer experiences Firefox lag. This is a very annoying problem since it does not allow us to surf internet in a faster way.

If Firefox lags in your computer and you want it to run it faster then you should follow the following guidelines which are found very helpful to end lagging in Firefox:

Clean Windows Registry: The Firefox browser creates a lot of registry entries in Windows registry. It is important to clean registry area to reduce clutter and prevent Firefox from lagging and freezing.

Clear Cache, History and Temporary Internet Files: The more junk is present in your browser, the more will Firefox lag. It is wise to clear cache, history and temporary internet files from the web browser.

Manage Add-ons and Toolbars: Why does Firefox lag when it had no problems in the past? This question is being asked by a lot of Firefox users like you. What happens is that people install a number of toolbars and add-ons which can cause disruption in the normal working of the browser. Uninstalling those add-ons which are causing trouble is helpful to fix this problem.

The above guidelines allow you to fix lagging problem with the Firefox browser. Most of the times this problem is also caused by the Flash errors. The Flash player, if not repaired, can make Firefox run slower as well as cause it to crash and freeze frequently. It is recommended by PC experts to repair Flash, active-x, file associations and other registry errors to make Firefox faster and stable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4666287

Firefox 5 - Well, Almost

Mozilla Firefox version 5 is on the horizon, reflected by the recent changes in the browser implemented in Firefox Beta Version 9.0. The newest release of Firefox sports a slimmed down user interface that reflects the recent trend towards tabbed browsing ala Google Chrome. It seems that all the major browsers have followed suit in adopting a similar interface... so much for forward thinking and creativity. I guess this proves the evolutionary hypothesis that form follows function. However, this doesn't really change the crucial function of Firefox, mainly browsing the internet.

Firefox Beta 9.0 has made some changes to it's engine that help to enhance its browsing capabilities. Quoted from the Mozilla Blog, "Firefox 4 Beta now includes a streamlined Firefox Sync setup, making it easier to bring Awesome bar history, bookmarks, open tabs and passwords across your computers and smartphones. Based on your feedback, we've made it much easier to setup Firefox Sync while still securing your Firefox data with the same high-grade encryption." The Firefox Sync setup does work well, and is pretty simple to use. Like other major password services such as LassPass, Sxipper, RoboForms, etc. it creates a copy stored on a server so that you can sync your data to whatever system you are currently using. It works well but I still prefer the more robust features of LastPass which works with any browser and easily creates multiple login profiles for the same website. I actually prefer Sxipper but alas it is not compatible with Firefox Beta 9. This brings me to one of the big drawbacks to Beta 9, plugin and extension compatibility is not at all guaranteed.

Another feature added to the Beta 9 engine is its redesigned graphic capabilities. Mozilla opted to integrate the WebGL standard, supported by many modern graphics cards, in an effort to make it easier for designers to create games and web applications for Firefox, without the need to download a plugin. For those that don't know WebGL is a 3D standard that supports accelerated graphics. This will help Firefox to put some zip into some of those graphic intensive game and video sites. The Firefox Blog purports, "Combined with our previous work to bring open HTML5 technologies for animation, video, and sound to the Web, developers can now create amazing experiences that are rendered directly in the browser, combining themselves with live data from the Internet." For controlling tabs Firefox Beta 9.0 has added a feature known as Panorama. This feature allows you to switch to a page on which all of a users open tabs are displayed together, using the panorama button or by pressing CTRL + SPACE. Using this feature you can visually see your tabs and even reorganize, group or expand tabs at will.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5845281

Transitioning To Firefox

Many of you have considered installing the Firefox browser
but haven't yet because of the unknown. Some of you may
have even tried it but went back to IE (Internet Explorer)
because no one was around to explain how to use and
configure it. Some of you have no idea why you would even
want to switch from using IE to Firefox. This article will
cover all that and more including how to create a one of a
kind unique browser just for you. You can't do that with
IE.

Because of the complete lack of custom options in IE as
well as it's constant security holes, Firefox was born. At
the time, IE was more popular than all other browser
options combined but there was no way to customize it. It's
rapid adoption and exponential user base growth was due
solely to the fact that it started out as secure, addressed
all new security issues in a timely manner and offered
users limitless was to customize it. Because it's open
source software, Firefox will always be a step ahead of IE
when it comes to stability and security.

Why open source? With the source code publicly available,
thousands of independent users can review and test it for
potential issues. With closed source browsers such as IE,
if Microsoft doesn't find a problem internally, it will
most likely be found first by a malicious hacker and
exploited. Open source software such as Firefox is more
secure and robust because so many more independent people
are reviewing, probing and testing it. Their much more
likely to find and fix an issue before it can be exploited.

What does all that mean to you? You'll know that your using
the safest most secure browser and it can even be
customized by you. You have access to thousands of other
customizations already created and you can share the ones
you may create with every other Firefox users. Firefox
doesn't leak your personal and financial information as you
use it and any issues that are found in the future are
usually fixed within 24 hours. IE is not supported by the
huge user base that Firefox enjoys so it's security issues
can linger for months all the while being exploited.

How can Firefox be customized when IE can not? Little
pieces of software called themes, plug-ins and extensions
allow you to control Firefox. There's a plug-in that lets
you keep an eye on the weather anywhere in the world as
well as notifying you instantly about severe weather
alerts. Astronomers can see, at a glance, sunrise, high
noon, sunset and moonrise as well as when the next full
moon will occur. Do those flashing banner adds annoy you?
Banish them permanently with the Adblock plug-in. You don't
have to create your own customizations if you don't want to
because there are thousands already in existence to choose
from. If you do want to create your own, Firefox will even
show you exactly how to do just that.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/Qz2dV

Strengthen Your Privacy in Firefox 3

Firefox safeguards your private information over the internet, however, there is at least one new feature in Firefox 3 that may leave you vulnerable. You can browse privately just by making a minor change in your configuration, and there are add-ons available as well to make Firefox more versatile. Clear the Location Bar and other evidence Scott Dunn explained several ways of changing the way Firefox 3 works in his June 19, 2008 article. I put the new browser to the test and found a number of ways to greatly improve its privacy features. The Location Bar in Firefox 3 will allow you to view a list of sites recently visited, through the use of a drop-down box. You can use this to speedily get back to a URL that you've visited in the past without needing to re-type the whole address. Naturally, you may want to prevent other people using your computer from seeing the URLs you've visited. Deleting an individual entry is an extremely easy process. All you need to do is find it in the drop-down list, highlight it, and press Delete. By reconfiguring the browser settings, you can also deactivate the history window. In the Address Bar, type about:config and hit Enter. In order to narrow the list of entries that will come up on your display, type urlbar in the Filter area, then press Enter.

Double-click browser.urlbar.maxRichResults. Change the value so that it becomes 0, then re-open the Internet browser. If you don't like the style of Firefox 3 but are partial to the Location Bar history feature, it's possible to reinstate the look of Firefox 2 by installing the oldbar add-on. If further privacy is desired, use the Firefox add-on called Distrust, which I first mentioned in the June 28, 2007 column. Your activity can be tracked from this point on by clicking the, "Distrust," button at the bottom of the browser. In order to remove cached files, history of downloaded files, cookies, browsing records, and other traces of your Internet activity without damaging other Firefox data, click the icon once more. Enable URL autocomplete in Firefox 3 When you begin to type a URL in Internet Explorer 7's address bar, Explorer will try and automatically complete the URL by matching it to the closest URL you have visited before. To obtain the same result in Firefox 3, be sure to enable URL autocomplete. Activating this feature in Firefox 3 is easy. Simply input the phrase about:config in the Location Bar, then hit the Enter key. Typing urlbar and then hitting Enter narrows the list of entries in the Filter area. Double-clicking where it says browser.urlbar.autoFill will change its value to true. You probably won't want to enable the drop-down history feature if you disabled it, as this could expose your browsing habits to other users who have access to your PC.

The easy way to remember Google search operators In order to receive more refined results in your searches, you can use special operators in your queries both through Yahoo and Google. On July 19, 2007, I provided details on how to utilize these operators for more effective searching. Remembering these operators isn't exactly a simple task considering how many operators there are. However, Advanced Dork, which is a very slick Firefox add-on, assists you in recalling various Google search operators. Once Advanced Dork has been installed, highlight on a Web page, right-click it, and from the pop-up menu, choose Advanced Dork. This will cause a list of advanced operators to be displayed. Pick one and it will launch a Google search. Then you may update your search query, if needed. This particular add-on will enable you to perform searches through the Scroogle anonymizer, rather than utilizing Google as you normally would. What Scroogle actually does is allow you to use Google anonymously by acting as a proxy go-between. Scroogle prevents any personal information from being transmitted to Google when you run a search.

It acts as a screen through which the query passes and the results return. Currently, there are 18 various advanced operators that are supported by Advanced Dork. Others are available, but you must manually add them to your search queries.

There is a full list of search operators available on Google's Advanced Operators page. Firefox + Gmail = online file storage Google's free e-mail service, Gmail, allows you to retrieve your messages and data from any location where there is a connection to the Internet. One of the great features of Gmail is you are given more than 6.6GB of online storage space with your inbox. That is quite a bit of space! The Gspace add-on for Firefox 3 allows you to use your Gmail account for more than just email and converts it into an online file storage system. You will be able to access your documents, data files, multimedia, etc., from any computer. Once installed, select Gspace by choosing Tools and then Gspace.

A window that resembles a standard FTP client will appear. Fill in your Gmail account details by clicking on Manage Accounts. You can now upload and download files. The Gspace window will consist of two panes: to the left will be the pane displaying your local hard drive and to the right will be the pane displaying items stored in your Gmail. Select the file you want to upload in the left pane and then click the right-pointing arrow between the two panes. In order to download a file, simply click the left-pointing arrow on it once you have selected it in the Gmail storage pane on the right. It is that easy. Take a look at the demo on the Gspace website, where you can also download the latest releases for Windows, Linux or OS X.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1363606

Firefox 1.5 vs. Internet Explorer 7 - It Is A Matter Of Trust

Firefox has been around for a much shorter time than Internet Explorer and still it is much more secure and reliable. Microsoft has released the newest version of their web browser, Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1. Already you can see complaints everywhere about bugs and problems experienced by people who upgraded to the newest version. Internet Explorer 7 boasts an array of new features, but almost all of them have been around in Mozilla Firefox for quite some time.

I guess the one feature Microsoft is bragging with the most is the new tabbed browsing interface. This is nothing new to Firefox users and I would rather trust a browser that has been using this feature for a couple of years because it had enough time to straighten out all the bugs and problems associated with it. Internet Explorer 7 is new to the world of tabbed browsing and one wonders how many problems will one experience with this feature before Microsoft gets it right. I'm not saying that there are any problems with its tabbed browsing feature, but if they could not even get the basics right in the past one does not have much trust when they come up with a brand new feature.

Later versions of Internet Explorer 6 introduced a built-in pop-up blocker. Users of Mozilla Firefox has been enjoying pop-up blocking long before Microsoft decided to add it to their browser. With its pop-up blocking feature and enhanced security, Firefox has been much less vulnerable to virus and spyware attacks than Internet Explorer. Firefox may not be 100% secure but security issues gets fixed in a much more timely fashion than the ones in Internet Explorer. The main reason for this effective attention to bug fixes is the fact that Firefox is Open Source software. Many people argue that it poses a great security threat having your source code available to the public, because it is easier to discover and exploit vulnerabilities when you have access to the code. This may be true, but the fact that the source code is available to anyone, creates a bigger pool of software developers contributing to the development and enhancement of the software, which results in faster and more effective releases for bug fixes and security issues. You are left at the mercy of Microsoft to get the problems in Internet Explorer fixed and all of us know how slow their response sometimes are when it comes to resolving security issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/302528

How Do I Fix Firefox Flash Issues

Have you tried all the steps and still the Firefox Flash doesn't work in your computer? Undoubtedly most of the multimedia content on the web requires Flash player. Although there is a new version of the player (Flash 10) available, but a lot of people still are not able to resolve Flash crashes in Firefox. This problem is really troublesome as it crashes videos and different type of Flash content in web browsers.

Here are given a few simple techniques that have been tested and found to be of great help. If your Firefox Flash doesn't work follow these steps:

Step 1: Repair Flash, Active-X and Registry Errors

Most of the times people think that Flash crashes Firefox browser due to some virus or malware infection. However, this is not correct. The actual reason behind Flash crashes, in majority of cases, is linked to the corruption in registry keys created by the browser and the Flash player. It is, therefore, recommended to repair Flash, Active-X and other registry errors to fix Firefox Flash crash.

Step 2: Create a New Firefox Profile

Some people have found creating a new Firefox profile quite helpful. This profile allows you to import data from your old profile and start browsing with a newly installed Firefox browser. You can make a new profile here. However, this option may not be suitable for most people who are accustomed to the existing Firefox usage. Therefore, repairing Flash, Active-X and the registry errors is a preferred solution.

Step 3: Uninstall the Existing Flash Player

As we know Firefox Flash doesn't work sometimes and also makes it difficult for us to watch videos online, it is better to uninstall the Flash player and then replace it with the latest version. You can uninstall your current version of Flash player from your computer by using the official uninstaller tool from Adobe. It is very important to completely remove the Flash files for resolving errors with the application.

Step 4: Install Latest Flash Version or Install a Previous Version if the Latest Doesn't Work

It is recommended that you install the Flash 10 player which is the recent version. You can get it from official web site of Adobe. If Firefox Flash doesn't work in your computer changing the version can help you fix the issue. However, to avoid future instances of Firefox Flash crashes you shall use some good registry repairing program.

Read more: http://EzineArticles.com/4730411

Security and Internet Browsers - Firefox vs Internet Explorer


Introduction

The Internet is becoming a more and more dangerous place to be, due in no small part to the inherent security risks posed by viruses and spyware. Additionally, applications that access the Internet as part of their normal operations may have errors in their code that allows hackers to launch attacks against the computer on which those applications are running. The safety and integrity of digital assets is further compromised by the fast-growing threat of cybercrooks who devise and implement large-scale hoaxes such as phishing and ID theft.

In the light of all this, it's clear that users need a reliable and secure web browser between them and the Internet, which will be free of these problems and won't let harmful content invade the computer.

The web browser industry continues to be dominated by the Windows-bundled Internet Explorer, with an 85% market share, but in recent years a new breed of free, more functional and resilient browsers has appeared - the most popular being Mozilla/Firefox and Opera. All have received serious security upgrades to help protect against recent scares and safeguard users online.

Internet Explorer is at version 6.0, essentially the same product that was included with Windows XP in 2001. Eighteen months ago, the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 substantially increased IE safety; however, it did not eliminate many of the loopholes exploited by hostile program code. At present, Firefox is at version 1.5, but its very different development history (see next section) means that it can be considered at a similar level of maturity as Internet Explorer.

Currently, Microsoft is preparing its next-generation browser, Internet Explorer 7.0, which it plans to introduce sometime during the first half of 2006. The company has stated that it intends to make the browser stronger and more secure to help protect its users against the many problems that have dogged the software over the years.

We, along with Internet users everywhere, await the final results with interest. In the meantime, we decided to undertake our own security evaluation of both IE 7 (beta) and its closest rival, Firefox 1.5.

History and overview

Internet Explorer is a proprietary graphical web browser developed by Microsoft. In 1995, the company licensed the commercial version of Internet Explorer 3.0 from Spyglass Mosaic and integrated the program into its Windows 95 OSR1 edition. Later, it included IE4 as the default browser in Windows 98 - a move which continues to raise many antitrust questions.

Firefox is an open-source browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation; anyone who is proficient enough can collaborate in writing and improving its program code. Mozilla is known for its stringent approach to security, promising a bounty of several thousand dollars for any major vulnerability found in the product.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/148644

Locate Your Firefox Profile Folder

Firefox allows you to create multiple profiles for saving your bookmarks, user names and extensions. To manage those profiles, it is helpful to locate your Firefox profile folder on your computer. Once you locate the profile folder, you will be able to backup your profiles or move them to a new location.

Find Your Firefox Profile Folder on Your Computer

Click 'Start' from the desktop and then choose 'Run' from the menu.

In the 'Open' line, type '%AppData%' (without the quotes) and press the 'OK' button. This will automatically open the 'Application Data' folder on your computer.

Browse through the list of folders until you find the 'Mozilla' folder. Double-click the folder.

Find the 'Firefox' folder and double-click to open the folder.

Locate the 'Profiles' folder and double-click it as well.

Find the 'xxxxxxxx.default' folder and open it up. The Xs represent 8 random letters and numbers that will be unique to your computer.

Locate the profiles found in this folder.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_2033372_locate-firefox-profile.html#ixzz1W2AYWyQT

How to Fix Firefox.Exe Errors


Mozilla Firefox is an Internet browser known for its speed and customization options. In December 2009, Mozilla Firefox became the most popular web browser, with a global market percentage of 21.93 percent. While many people enjoy the benefits of Mozilla Firefox, some users have experienced a pesky Firefox.exe error. Fortunately, fixing this error is relatively easy.

Instructions

Reinstall Mozilla Firefox


Click "Start" and then "Control Panel."


Click on "Uninstall a Program."


Scroll down the list of programs and click on "Mozilla Firefox."

Click on "Uninstall" and then click "OK."


Download the latest version of Mozilla Firefox at the Mozilla Firefox home page. The link for this page can be found in this article's Resources segment. Firefox.exe errors are often the result of a bad installation. Moreover, Mozilla Firefox continually updates its Web browser to combat errors. Therefore, reinstalling Mozilla Firefox should fix the Firefox.exe errors. If it does not, continue to the next step.


Read more: http://goo.gl/cQdXu

Locate Your Firefox Profile Folder


Firefox allows you to create multiple profiles for saving your bookmarks, user names and extensions. To manage those profiles, it is helpful to locate your Firefox profile folder on your computer. Once you locate the profile folder, you will be able to backup your profiles or move them to a new location.

Instructions


Click 'Start' from the desktop and then choose 'Run' from the menu.


In the 'Open' line, type '%AppData%' (without the quotes) and press the 'OK' button. This will automatically open the 'Application Data' folder on your computer.


Browse through the list of folders until you find the 'Mozilla' folder. Double-click the folder.

Find the 'Firefox' folder and double-click to open the folder.

Locate the 'Profiles' folder and double-click it as well.


Find the 'xxxxxxxx.default' folder and open it up. The Xs represent 8 random letters and numbers that will be unique to your computer.


Locate the profiles found in this folder.


Read more: http://goo.gl/xloEp

How to Increase Firewall Protection ?


With the constant threat of Internet hackers and identity thieves it is vital that your computer is fully protected and always updated for the latest viruses and malware. The Windows firewall, a default with most PCs, is a powerful anti-virus tool that can be configured to increase your computer's protection.

Instructions

Navigate to your Computer's Control Panel located in the Start Menu. Double-click on the "Windows Firewall" icon to open a new window. The Windows Firewall icon is represented by the image of a brick wall with the planet earth behind it.

Ensure that the Windows Firewall is switched on. If your firewall is not switched on your computer is susceptible to incoming viruses, Trojan horses and malicious files. Click the "On (recommended)" button to turn on your firewall.

Click the "Exceptions" tab at the top of the Windows Firewall window. You are still allowing certain programs and applications to download and transfer packages through your PC although your firewall is running. By altering the Exceptions of your firewall you can increase the protection of your PC. Clicking on the "Exceptions" tab opens a new window section.

Un-tick some of the programs that are more likely to contain or traffic malicious files. For example, P2P file-sharing programs such as Limewire, Ares and UTorrent are not 100 per cent regulated or checked for viruses.

Update your firewall with a Windows Service Pack. Windows is constantly updating the firewall software of its Operating Systems and this means that any new or previously-unknown malware will now be recognized and prevented from accessing your PC. Your computer will let you know and warn you when these new malicious files are accessing your computer.

Read more: http://goo.gl/VqYHf

How to Import Bookmarks Into Firefox ?

Importing bookmarks from another computer or other web browser into Firefox is easy. With just a few clicks, your bookmarks will be saved into your Mozilla Firefox browser.

Instructions

Open up a Firefox window.
       
Click on the "Bookmarks" menu and select "Manage Bookmarks." If you are using Firefox 3.6.2, then you need to click on "Organize Bookmarks..."
        

In the window that pops up click on the "File" menu and select "Import." In case of Firefox 3.6.2, click on "Import and Backup" just above the list. Then click on the "Import HTML" option from the drop-down list. A new window comes up.
      

Select the "Microsoft Internet Explorer" option if you are importing favorites from Internet Explorer on the same computer. Then click next. If you are importing from a file of saved bookmarks or favorites choose "From File" and click next.
        

Select the file in the open window that pops up and then click "Open" if you are importing from a file. Firefox will do the rest for you. If importing from Internet Explorer, just click "Finished" when it's done.


Read more:  http://goo.gl/4Kgkd

Firefox: Benefit Analysis versus Internet Explorer

Most of Firefox's advantages are MSIE's disadvantages, and vice-versa. This article will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of Firefox in relation to MSIE.

Advantages

Security

Security is often cited as the primary reason for users switching from MSIE to Firefox. Security is of utmost importance for software that interacts with remote computers, in an era of high security risk activities such as online banking.

Firefox has fewer security holes and a tighter schedule of disclosing them. The enhanced security in Firefox is due to a multitude of factors the system's inclusion of more source code reviewers and a better bug reporting system and exclusion of VBScript/ActiveX, often the source of vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been clamoring for years to try to clamp down on the MSIE security holes. It acquired an anti-spyware product, which it released under the banner of Microsoft AntiSpyware. It also promises its new Windows Vista platform will be more secure. However, Microsoft's track record to date has done little to boost the confidence of today's user.
Standards compliance

Firefox has vaulted ahead of MSIE with improved support for standard web protocols, such as its superior stylesheet compatibility.

Since MSIE had a leading marketshare, the company had less interest in conforming to web standards, and instead focused on proprietary protocols, with the goal of maintaining their market position. That is, the focus of Microsoft was to try to convert as much of its userbase to writing webpages and web applications that required a proprietary MSIE-approach, so that down the road, users would be less able to move off a Microsoft platform.
As a result, Microsoft neglected for years to improve support for basic open standards. For example, transparent PNG graphics did not work all the way through to MSIE version 6.

Multiple operating system platforms

Firefox is available for users who runs Windows (Windows 98 through to Windows XP), Mac OS X, all the leading versions of Linux, as well as some lesser-used operating systems. In comparison, Microsoft has dropped development for Mac, and other non-Windows systems. Furthermore, Microsoft has ceased new development even on their own versions of Windows, making the new MSIE only available to users who have a license for Windows XP.
Firefox also has a similar user interface among the different operating platforms. For deployments that have a mix of operating platforms (such as Linux for the techs, Macs for the graphic designers, and Windows for the accounts department), moving to Firefox for everyone thus brings technical support costs down.

Time-saving browser innovations

Internet communication and interaction is a core component for most modern businesses. Efficient use of web browser time translates to increased profits, so innovations to help workers do their tasks faster are welcomed.
Firefox leads MSIE in this regard, with out-of-the-box features such as integrated Google search in the toolbar, placing the find-within-page box at the bottom of the browser window so as not to obscure the text, and so on.

Read more: http://goo.gl/9fi4t

Mozilla Firefox: The Best Internet Browser

Many people do not realize that they have a choice when it comes to choosing an Internet browser, but they do. The fact is that the best web browser is probably not the one that came pre-installed on your PC. In this article, we will tell you why.

When you buy a laptop computer, you typically receive a lot of built-in software. The first piece of software that you see on any new machine is the operating system itself. For most of you, this will be either Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, the latest version of the Microsoft operating system. This operating system software is “the director” in your computer, allowing everything else to function properly.

As you will note, all of the operating systems listed above are made by Microsoft. So, what software do you use when you actually surf the Internet?

Well, a large percentage of you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, which typically comes bundled with your computer. In fact, some competitors were using names like “monopoloy” when referring to how Microsoft bundles their other software to go with all new computers.

Because it is the only immediately available Internet browser on many of the latest best selling laptops, many consumers do not even realize that they have a choice.

But when it comes to using a web browser to surf the Internet, there are choices beyond Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and you may find you prefer other browsers to the one pre-installed on your machine.

In fact, the Internet Explorer that comes with your new top rated netbook has not been recognized as the market leader. Another product called Mozilla Firefox has.

For those who know they have an option when it comes to a browser-based products, Mozilla Firefox has become the overwhelming choice because it simply performs better.

What is the one thing that people crave most in a web browser? The answer is speed. In speed tests, Firefox has proven to be much faster than its Microsoft counterpart and this alone often convinces people to switch to Firefox.

However, there are many things other than speed that people love about Firefox. You will hear a confusing term called extensibility, which is also loved by technical folks and end-users alike. This essentially means that you can easily add things to Firefox and tailor it to your needs. For example, I have a Spanish dictionary plug-in that I love.

So, when it comes to the best web browser, the pre-installed one is not always the best. Give Mozilla Firefox a try and you may be in store for a very pleasant surprise.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Mozilla-Firefox---The-Best-Internet-Browser/1737712

Why Is Firefox Running Slow - Why Firefox Is Slow And How To Fix It

Have you been using Firefox for quite some time and lately noticed that it is running slow? The loading of pages takes longer than usual and sometimes it just hangs. You've checked your internet connection but there is nothing wrong there. Everything else works perfectly fine yet Firefox is still running slow. The problem here lies in your Windows registry. The registry is the central storage for all settings of your operating system and installed applications. It contains information that Windows continually references during operation. It is the heart and brain of your system that is why registry errors have a tremendous effect on your computer's operation including that of Firefox.

Every time you open your browser, a record is logged in the registry. Over time, it will contain loads of Firefox related files and processes. Most of them become redundant and obsolete causing the registry to be congested thus the reason why Firefox is running slow. Windows doesn't automatically clean these invalid entries because there is no internal tool which does this task. In order to speed up your Firefox browser, you must first take all the junk from your registry.

One way to do this is manually. If you are very sharp with computers then you can manually sift through the registry and get rid of the invalid and redundant browser related files. Others may find that reinstalling Windows can perform the trick by giving you a clean slate.

But for the complete computer novice, I recommend getting a registry cleaner. With the right software you can scan your computer and speed up Firefox in minutes. Not only will you not have to ask why Firefox is slow, your entire system will be turbo charged.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Why-Is-Firefox-Running-Slow---Why-Firefox-Is-Slow-And-How-To-Fix-It/1385886

Firefox Web Browser - A Users Guide

firefox blue Wallpaper
 
If you want a secure, stable and fast browser then you need to look no further than Firefox. Whether your new to Firefox or a current user looking for some tricks or tips you should find this article helpful.

You can run Firefox browser alongside other browsers such as IE and Chrome, so you can keep your existing browsers while you take it for a test drive. You download Firefox by simply going to their website and downloading it and following the install instructions.

When opening a new window, it is a good idea to use the 'tab' option as this will enable you to have many pages on one window, which is easier to navigate instead of having many windows. When you enter the URL of the site you wish to visit it is unnecessary to enter www. or http:// as just the name followed by.com or whatever else is the domain ending, e.g EzineArticles.com will suffice.

If you're searching for a website you can use the address bar to do a search much like you do when using Google. just type in the keywords and it'll look for websites that relate to the keywords. If your not sharing your internet connection with others then you can customize Firefox to get the full speed it can from the connection, follow these steps:

Type about:config in the Firefox address bar. Press enter and then ok. Next type network.http in the Filter box the and double click network.http.pipelining, next double click again on network.http.proxy.pipelining.

Then double click on network.http.pipelining and type 30 in the dialogue box and enter.. Find an empty spot in the configuration settings and right-click then select New- Integer. Here make the the new entry nglayout.initialpaint.delay and make it a value of number 0. Lastly click on x to exit Firefox. Your Firefox browser should now be faster at loading pages. I hope you have found the tips in this article beneficial.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Firefox-Web-Browser---A-Users-Guide/1736055

Firefox web 3D engine fosters image theft bug

An industry standard graphics engine recently added to Mozilla's Firefox browser allows attackers to surreptitiously steal any image displayed on a Windows or Mac computer just by visiting a booby-trapped website, security researchers have warned. The vulnerability, reported Thursday by UK-based Context Information Security, is unique to Mozilla's implementation of the 3D-accelleration API known as WebGL, but researchers with the firm said it's related to serious design flaws in the cross-platform technology. The report comes five weeks after Context first warned of data-theft and denial-of-service threats in WebGL, which is also built into Google Chrome and developer versions of Opera and Apple's Safari.
Screen shot from Context report

Apple on Thursday announced that iPhones and iPads will offer limited support for the technology when iOS 5 is released later this year.

The report, coincidentally or otherwise, came the same day researchers from Microsoft's Security Research Center published a brief analysis titled "WebGL Considered Harmful" that concurred that it suffers from a variety of weaknesses that will be hard to fix.

"The security of WebGL as a whole depends on lower levels of the system, including OEM drivers, upholding security guarantees they never really need[ed] to worry about before," the Microsoft critique stated. "Attacks that may have previously resulted only in local elevation of privilege may now result in remote compromise. While it may be possible to mitigate these risks to some extent, the large attack surface exposed by WebGL remains a concern."

Microsoft products that implemented WebGL would have a tough time passing the company's rigorous Security Development Lifecycle, the analysis added. Microsoft has instead relied on a home-grown technology known as Direct3D to make graphics faster in its applications. A Context representative said Microsoft didn't commission the Context report. A Microsoft spokeswoman declined to say if Microsoft provided any support. 

Exposing GPU memory to world+dog

The Context researchers have developed a proof-of-concept exploit that allows an attacker to steal images displayed on computers that do nothing more than use a current version of Firefox on a WebGL-enabled machine to browse a site with a malicious payload. The attack works by "spraying" memory in the computer's graphics card to collect data that's already been processed.

"The vulnerability we discovered enables any graphics image that has been displayed on the system to be stolen by an attacker by reading unitialised data from graphics memory," the Context report stated. "This is not limited to WebGL content but includes other web pages, a user's desktop and other applications." A video included with the report shows images from an encrypted session on LinkedIn.com being stolen from a computer running Apple's OS X. The exploit also works against PCs running Microsoft Windows.

A spokeswoman for Mozilla said the vulnerability will be fixed with the introduction of Firefox 5, due next week. A statement issued by representatives of Khronos, the firm that acts as the gatekeeper for the WebGL standard, said that the threat "is due to a bug in Firefox's WebGL implementation, and cannot be generalized across other browsers' WebGL implementations." The Context report raised other concerns about the security and stability of WebGL, including the failure of both Firefox and Chrome to pass a suite of conformance tests that prove their implementations adhere to official specifications.

"Between disparate platforms the browser must be exposing some aspect of the underlying graphics implementation to the web page for problems to arise, even if it is something trivial such as incorrect return values," the report concluded. The Context researchers also found problems in a previously-released extension designed to mitigate the effects of vulnerabilities that make it easy for websites to completely crash machines that have WebGL enabled. So far, only graphics cards made by NVidia support the GL_ARB_robustness extension, and even then it doesn't work on machines running Windows XP, the Context researchers claimed. Mozilla has responded with a forthcoming GL_ARB_robustness_2 extension, further calling into question the effectiveness of the current extension, they added.

The Khronos spokesman's statement said: "All browser vendors are still working toward passing the WebGL conformance suite. Only once they have successfully done so can they claim support of Canvas.getContext("webgl") instead of Canvas.getContext("experimental-webgl")." The statement continued: "Browser vendors are still in the process of supporting the GL_ARB_robustness extension, so it is expected that the previously reported denial-of-service issues are still present. It is expected that the reported denial-of-service issues will be solved with the integration of this extension."
 
Still in its adolescence

A Google spokesman said that Chrome doesn't run WebGL on some system configurations when lower level stack issues are identified and that many parts of WebGL, including the GPU process, run in separate processes that are sandboxed in the browser to help prevent the kinds of attacks described by Context.

Context researchers recommend users disable WebGL in both Firefox and Chrome, while the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team has suggested administrators review the Context findings and "update their systems as necessary to help mitigate the risks."

The two reports from Context, and the responses from Khronos, strongly suggest that WebGL is still in its adolescence and will require a more work among browser makers and hardware manufacturers for it to become mature. Disabling WebGL is probably an overreaction. Then again, at this early stage, users who turn it off probably aren't missing much. For those who decide to forgo the benefits of WebGL, Context's report provides step-by-step instructions for turning off the graphics-acceleration interface in both Firefox and Chrome.
 
News Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/16/webgl_security_threats_redux/ 

How to Switch to Firefox and Why You should

First things first, what is Firefox? Well, it's a browser. Ok but what's that? A browser is a computer program used to view web pages, to browse through the world wide web. In fact you are reading this article with a browser at the moment. Browsers are very useful. For a start, they can remember what pages you have looked at, you can even store your favourite pages as Bookmarks. Browsers can do much more depending on which one you have.

Firefox is a free browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The Mozilla Foundation develops open source software. Another excellent application is Thunderbird, an email program.

More than likely you are using Internet Explorer to view this webpage. This browser is part of Microsoft Windows operating system. To check which browser you are using:

    Click on the Help in your browsers menu bar. (It's the last option on the right hand side, after File, Edit...)
    Click on the last option in the menu that appears.

If it says Microsoft Internet Explorer® then you have the browser that between 80% and 90% (depending on who you talk to) use.

So why change?

Security: Most experts agree that you are less likely to be the subject of a malicious attack by "hackers" if you use Firefox than if you use Internet Explorer.

Firefox Extensions: There is a whole array of quick and easy to install extensions available for Firefox. Extensions add functionality to your browser. They are a bit like the added extras that you get with your car (except they're free!). Everything from Ad blockers to your local weather forecast.

Tabbed browsing: Instead of opening your browser more than once to view more than one page at a time, which can slow down your computer, tabbed browsing allows you to open many web pages, in tabs, in only one browser.

So how do you get the Firefox browser?

    Click on this link to go to the Firefox download page.
    In the top right corner of the page is a green area with a link to the free download.
    When the dialog box appears, click save.
    Select a location to download the file to.
    The file should start downloading to the location you selected.
    When the file has finished downloading, (it should be called something like Firefox Setup 1.0.5.exe) double click on it to open it.
    If you have Windows XP service pack 2 is installed, a dialog box may appear. Select execute.
    After Firefox has extracted, click next.
    Click on the radio button beside 'I accept the terms of the License Agreement' and then click on the next button.
    The standard installation is fine so just click on the next button.
    This screen just confirms the location that Firefox is to installed, so just click on the next button again.
    Click Finish to complete the installation and launch Firefox.

Source: http://goo.gl/j5Kss

Mozilla Firefox Breaks World Record

Mozilla Firefox 3.0, the resurgent browser developer has come of age with its latest offering. The new browser has been downloaded well over 8 million times in 24 hours as against the developer's target of 5 million and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for maximum number of downloads in a single day of download history. There was overwhelming support, both from the United States and the Euro zone with downloads in excess of 2.5 million apiece.

The response for the finished Mozilla browser is largely on account of meticulous care the foundation has taken in providing solutions to expert suggestions. The new version was delivered after three and half years of extensive research and development which included of six months of public testing. The highly mutated form of earlier versions of the browser is set to change the way users organize and search the sites, they frequent more often. Back in late 1990's, the Netscape, the first browser developer virtually lost out to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, but with the third avatar of Firefox, they are making an attempt to garner the past glory.

After America Online took over Netscape, they created a non-profit Mozilla Foundation in 2003. The first offering from them, the Firefox, itself was able to catch the imagination of the internet buffs. It is estimated, Firefox has 200 million users worldwide prior to the launch of the new version and the numbers are still growing rapidly. Millions of users had downloaded Firefox and started using the browser in lieu of the default browser Internet Explorer clearly indicates its user-friendliness and application.

The new Firefox 3.0 browser is faster than Firefox 2.0. The latest versions of Internet Explorer, which has 75% share among the web users and other leading browser developers including Opera and Safari do not match the speed rendered by the latest Firefox version. Like its earlier version, this too has added security features to expunge any misuse. It has in-built features to instantly detect phishing and malware forays. Moreover, one's computer's resources are less drained while navigating on the internet with Firefox 3.0.

Consequently, Microsoft also unveiled the public test version of the latest edition of Internet Explorer, version 8.0. So far Firefox 3.0 has no competitor in terms of effectiveness and efficiency to strike any comparison. But the fine tuned edition of Internet Explorer which is expected to be released by the end of this year may become a potential competitor in the e-space. It is learned that even Apple's Safari browser has shrugged off its previous image of providing surf solutions to its own devices, and would be extending its compatible browsing services to other devices as well.

Stiff challenges in future is likely to improve the efficiency of browsers especially the subsequent versions of Firefox, which already offers exploring of multiple tabs or windows, complex pages and lots of embedded content without crashing. The exciting response on the download of new version, the most customizable browser ever to hit the net will certainly prompt the Mozilla Foundation to improve on.

Source: http://goo.gl/XgxVu

Why Mozilla Firefox is So Popular ?

If we want to understand the reasons behind Firefox success we have to find the origins of the browser. During, September 2002 the first version of the browser was released to the public called Phoenix. The browser was based on Gecko engine from Mozilla Suite. After, a number of releases the name was changed to Firebird but due to a legal dispute it was changed again to Firefox. This browser has received a great deal of publicity as an alternative browser to Internet Explorer.

There are many factors behind Firefox's success but I think the added features and the marketing strategy make a whole lot difference in users' adopting the software. Another thing, I want to add is that Internet Explorer after winning the battle with Netscape's browser was left with no significant changes. Of course, this has changed with the upcoming new version of windows called Vista and a new version of Internet Explorer. I suppose Microsoft is trying to correct some omissions and bugs in various levels of the browser.

We are now going to explore the main features Firefox has at the moment. One of the main goal of the developers working in Firefox is enhanced usability and accessibility for the end user. Tabbed browsing, where you load many pages on the same window, is a valuable feature in Firefox as it can make your browsing a lot faster. Also, pop-up blocking eliminates those irritating ads and the user can easily find information on a particular page using the 'find as you type' feature. The built in search bar includes all the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo etc. and you can add more search engines if you want. People working on the accessibility of the browser have manged to make Firefox work with several screen readers, screen magnifiers and on-screen keyboards. These accessibility features can help people with impairments browse the Internet easier than before.

Another feature Firefox users like very much is that they can customize easily many aspects of the browser. Extensions such as the popular web developer or the Venkman debugger can be added to the browser and enhance the functionality of Firefox. Users, often like to have an appearance according to their preferences so they use different themes in Firefox. Therefore, themes are used to change the visual appearance of the browser.

Security is really important for end users and corporations. Both, want a secure browser that they can trust without the security holes of Internet Explorer and its ActiveX technology. Mozilla Firefox fulfills this requirement mainly by giving the opportunity to other developers to check the code for security bugs and using various successful security techniques and models such as the sandbox security model. In addition, the browser can be used in many different platforms and the source code is freely available for anyone to compile it and contribute to the project.

We have seen numerous features that Firefox has but I would like to talk a little bit about the marketing strategy that is used. The development of the browser is supported by search engines Google and Yahoo through partnerships and mostly by the open source community. Mozilla Foundation which is responsible for the development of the browser believes that community based marketing can be successful. They have proven their point by using a community based marketing web site called spreadfirefox.com. They were able to place an ad on New York Times through donations made by the community of developers and devotees during the release of Firefox 1.0.

Source: http://goo.gl/wn9yX

Firefox: Benefit Analysis versus Internet Explorer

Most of Firefox's advantages are MSIE's disadvantages, and vice-versa. This article will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of Firefox in relation to MSIE.

Advantages

Security

Security is often cited as the primary reason for users switching from MSIE to Firefox. Security is of utmost importance for software that interacts with remote computers, in an era of high security risk activities such as online banking.

Firefox has fewer security holes and a tighter schedule of disclosing them. The enhanced security in Firefox is due to a multitude of factors the system's inclusion of more source code reviewers and a better bug reporting system and exclusion of VBScript/ActiveX, often the source of vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been clamoring for years to try to clamp down on the MSIE security holes. It acquired an anti-spyware product, which it released under the banner of Microsoft AntiSpyware. It also promises its new Windows Vista platform will be more secure. However, Microsoft's track record to date has done little to boost the confidence of today's user.
Standards compliance

Firefox has vaulted ahead of MSIE with improved support for standard web protocols, such as its superior stylesheet compatibility.

Since MSIE had a leading marketshare, the company had less interest in conforming to web standards, and instead focused on proprietary protocols, with the goal of maintaining their market position. That is, the focus of Microsoft was to try to convert as much of its userbase to writing webpages and web applications that required a proprietary MSIE-approach, so that down the road, users would be less able to move off a Microsoft platform.
As a result, Microsoft neglected for years to improve support for basic open standards. For example, transparent PNG graphics did not work all the way through to MSIE version 6.

Multiple operating system platforms

Firefox is available for users who runs Windows (Windows 98 through to Windows XP), Mac OS X, all the leading versions of Linux, as well as some lesser-used operating systems. In comparison, Microsoft has dropped development for Mac, and other non-Windows systems. Furthermore, Microsoft has ceased new development even on their own versions of Windows, making the new MSIE only available to users who have a license for Windows XP.
Firefox also has a similar user interface among the different operating platforms. For deployments that have a mix of operating platforms (such as Linux for the techs, Macs for the graphic designers, and Windows for the accounts department), moving to Firefox for everyone thus brings technical support costs down.

Time-saving browser innovations

Internet communication and interaction is a core component for most modern businesses. Efficient use of web browser time translates to increased profits, so innovations to help workers do their tasks faster are welcomed.
Firefox leads MSIE in this regard, with out-of-the-box features such as integrated Google search in the toolbar, placing the find-within-page box at the bottom of the browser window so as not to obscure the text, and so on.

Disadvantages

Retraining

Any switch of software incurs a retraining cost. However, a switch from MSIE to Firefox requires only a mild amount of retraining.

The switch from MSIE to Firefox is designed to be easy, with proper import of bookmarks and other settings.

Browser interfaces are becoming standard, so understanding how to get up and running is not usually a problem. There are some only minor adjustments. For example, "Internet Files" in MSIE is called "Cache" in Firefox. One can use a downloaded MSIE theme so that the Firefox user interface even more closely resembles that of MSIE.

Incomplete migration

In a business with Windows computers, if the switch from MSIE to Firefox is incomplete, it can cost more to offer technical support for both browsers. This argument would only apply to shops whose Windows computers are all Windows XP. Since the new MSIE is only available for Windows XP, if there are different Windows versions (such as Windows NT or 2000), then the technical support team already needs to support different types of MSIE browsers.

Another consideration, however, is that even an incomplete switch from MSIE to Firefox could result in less technical support, since the Firefox users would be less likely to need help with fixing their computer after an MSIE-related security breach.

Source: http://goo.gl/19DsR

How to Speed Up Mozilla Firefox

    * Mozilla Firefox is one of the best web browsers around. It supports various operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux and among others.To fully maximize the potential and basically to improve its speed, you can follow these Firefox tweaks for a speedier browsing experience.

To start, type about:config on the address box of the Firefox. This will prompt you to a confirmation page asking if you really want to continue or not. Once you hit Enter, you will be routed to a list of configurations and we take it from there. This is the most common configuration used regardless of the type of connection you have or the computer's speed.

They are as follows:

Enter "network.http.pipelining" on the filter tab and hit Enter. Double click on network.http.pipelining field and set the value to "true". Double click the next field saying network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and set its value to "8".

Back to the filter tab, type "network.http.proxy.pipelining" and then hot Enter, double click the network.http.proxy.pipelining field to set it to "true".

Right click anywhere on the about:config result and choose new then integer. Type "content.notify.backoffcount" hit OK then set the value to "5".

Type "network.dns.disableIPv6" on the filter tab and must be set also on "true".

Lastly, set the "ui.submenuDelay" to "0". You can find it by right-clicking anywhere on the about:config result and choose new then integer.

Source: http://goo.gl/iL4kX