Report: Internet Explorer 9 Doesn't Suck

[Fasckira]

I can quite believe that IE repels the most malware. You know why? If you do a fresh install of IE9, you'll then spend the next hour or so as your browse the net clicking through various prompts from Microsoft asking if you're sure you wish to display this, if you want to run that, if meant to click this, if you're sure you want to google that etc.

IE9 basically takes a dozen or so blankets and wraps them around you really tightly. If you dont turn those warnings off then yes, the chances of getting infected with malware are very slim. However if you're a human being who wants to view more than just the microsoft approved sites then you're probably going to end up turning all those prompts off pretty quickly!

 

[Gaias]

I have the best defense against socially engineered malware: anti-social.

 

[MajorDolphin]

Hrm. Interesting. I somehow doubt they did a comparative test against any browser with any other operating system. I somehow doubt IE9 is more secure than say, Firefox on a Linux machine or straight up Firefox with Noscript on any machine.

 

[Kyle 2175]

Maybe by default it's better, but it's very easy to install the Noscript addon and other addons for Firefox for security. And I'd imagine there's similiar things out there for Chrome.

 

[AWAR]

No. It is just too exaggerated to believe. I want to see more studies to be convinced.
Also Chrome safer than Firefox and Opera? Not buying it....

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

I'm far too use to Firefox to start using something else. I'm sure all those browsers run just fine. Besides, you rarely get malware and viruses if you use a little common sense while on the internet. Anyone else remember when NSS Labs did this with IE8? Yeah, they said it was the best browser to use as well, even when IE8 had openly, glaring holes in its protection. Here's a nice little breakdown of that last report:

http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200912/3268/Can-you-trust-the-NSS-Labs-report-touting-the-benefits-of-IE8

I call bullshit.

 

[Asehujiko]

Misleading statistics

Not a single mention of false positives, if the other browsers had their relevant addons installed or what kind of malicious links they tested against. This "research" shows absolutely nothing.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Ya right, these "surprising studies" are a really common thing that exclude one very important factor, who funded them.

Looking at the results I'd say NSS Labs got a nice fat check in the mail written by Microsoft.

 

[Abedeus]

Yeaah... Firefox 4... I'm using 6.

 

[Alon Shechter]

...I don't believe you.
*Proceeds to open 30 tabs in Chrome*

 

[penguindude42]

In other news, the sky is blue, Mass Effect and its kin blow cocks, and sharks are badass SOBs.

Honestly, this is anything but "news".

~TOM#!

 

[Floppertje]

sorry, but this just makes me wonder wether nss labs (whatever the hell they are) isn't biased... I'm not buying the 86% difference just like that...

 

[Bernzz]

Firefox 4? You mean they one they stopped malware protection updates for because they moved to 5, and now 6? Yep. I personally am not stupid enough to get viruses online, but I guess for someone not as used to the 'net, IE is a good choice.

 

[targren]

If I wasn't so dependent on 4 extensions (ABP, NoScript, Lazarus, and PasswordMaker), I would have left Firefox at version 4. I absolutely loathe the UI, the new development philosophy, and the continued stability problems.

Unfortunately, I absolutely love Lazarus and PWM...

 

[Metropocalypse]

How much was Ballmer bribing this study?

 

[Aardvark Soup]

Now if Microsoft had just build their Operating System to be a little more secure we wouldn't have had these malware issues in the first place...

 

[Aedes]

So... an outdated research with really old version of the browsers. No, thank you. I'm sticking with my firefox.

Spoiler: Also, how can you NOT like this?!

 

[ciasteczkowyp]

Why is it that I still find Opera to outperform internet $explorer on every level, then?

 

[Kakashi on crack]

but if you have a grandmother or Auntie Sue who can't make such a judgement call, you could do a lot worse than making sure their laptop is running the most updated version of Internet Explorer

Gotcha. So in other words, time to recommend IE to my dad, who gets like, 15 viruses a week, and can 'never figure out why'. Uh huh.

This is how I see it... I live with a family of 6 (including myself) and I'm the only one litterate enough to get rid of viruses. My oldest sister is the only one who knows to avoid them and my youngest sister is kinda my "apprentice" I'm teaching so that when I move out she'll be able to fix my mothers computer.


I beleive the IE part because microsoft prevents people from their own stupidity by auto-blocking things and then telling you its a "connection problem." Really, blocking socially engineered viruses shouldn't even be a feature since anyone browsing the internet should know not to click anything if a random "scan" or "100th visitor" pops up.


EDIT: and I have to agree with the poster above me. Opera is the shnizz