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
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
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
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
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