We're discussing that in one of the staff forums right now, and actually, it's your very post here which caused the question to be brought up.

Judging from the staff feedback so far, it looks like the Internet Explorer forum is probably going to be renamed and expanded into a general web browser forum some time soon.

Good to know that my posts are helping. There are so many browsers around today...it's like the users of unix distros, I've tried three browsers myself...

All hail firefox. If you're using firefox already, try the WhiteHart skin, it rocks.

no it doesn't. Firefox hides "problems" with IE by exposing people to the problems in itself.

In my experience most "problems" people have with IE exist only between their ears. I've in 8 years online never had a trojan, spyware, or virus infection for example, despite using IE almost exclusively.
Enough indication that the problem is not with IE itself but with the way it's (ab)used, just as the problem with guns is not inherent to the gun but to in the way they're used (if you point it at someone and pull the trigger someone could get hurt).

Haven't we had this discussion before? You're just plain wrong, jwenting. the 'problem' with Internet Explorer is the fact that it's so closely and intimately integrated with the OS shell, and through it the most fundamental core components of the OS can be exposed to outside interference.

Without Microsoft de-integrating the browser and completely reworking it so that it becomes a stand-alone product rather than a component of the OS itself, it is a browser which is flawed beyond redemption!

And I might add that your experience, over the years, is a lucky one, and one which I hope continues for you. But the simple fact is that there are now 'intruders' loose in the 'wilds' of the internet, which can infect your system simply because you have viewed an image or a web-page. Please don't be suggesting that anyone who gets an infection when using it is 'thick', because that's simply not the case!

Isn't this the one where Catweazle suggested you remove/reinstall Acrobat and you ended up reformatting? (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...4&page=2&pp=15)

Here's the one about Pasting, no replies to that one yet (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...ad.php?t=21188)

Did you notice the new name here? Web Browsers instead of Internet Explorer

Wow, what a memory, dlh! :eek: Actually, I believe that was two different instances on two different computers. Catweazle did help me the first time in update Firefox thread and I had to reload Windows to get Acrobat back up. He´s helped me in more than one instance. But I didn't get an answer to the question in this thread as you can see.

I have five computers on my net and they are all different except for O/S (now) and to be honest I can´t remember exactly what I did to which one. When I moved back from Spain, it took a while to get them all running and I had different problems with each because they all had different O/Ss and software, etc. I even had to salvage parts from several older chassis to get my wife´s up and running.

Yep, no one has answered the one about pasting. I would have thought someone would have had the same problem with all the Firefox users around here.

YES! Web Browsers covers everything; I am in shock that I caused a change in the forums...I am so happy! In fact, there have been a lot of changes and improvements here in the short time I have been around. Good teamwork.

Seriously, I am happy here participating and now, contributing it seems. You guys are all great and I have solved so many problems in my net talking with you all. The best thing is that I have learned an awful lot around here in just the little while I´ve been a member.

That´s why I´m trying to contribute by attempting to help on the network forum, which is one of the few areas I´m qualified to help in. I´ve been around networking since the beginning but don´t have a lot of hands on experience, more from a theoretical standpoint. But having my own wireless lan at home and being a sales engineer in wireless infrastructure lets me help a little in some cases. I don´t really feel comfortable helping when I haven´t tried it myself.

But thanks to all of you, I am now running a completely (well almost) clean network and hardly have any issues whatsoever. Of course, now I´m going to attempt to set up a unix session somewhere on one of the computers and I´m sure I´ll be back to asking questions again soon.

Didn't boter readon everything..

My suggestion is that if you have ie, use it for one thing, and one thing only..

Windows Update..

Hell don't even do that actually use Avant Web Browser..

http://www.avantbrowser.com/

It gives you functionality on windowsupdate website and allows you to download the updates there without ever needing IE..

Also with firefox, it's more secure, has no spyware currently, can be customized to increase the speed of website's loading, and is trustworth and OPEN SOURCE..

I can't see why anyone is still using ie except for win updates..


ALSO another browser that is VERY USEFUL and has tabbed browsing..

http://myie2.com/html_en/home.htm

Its called My IE 2, or i should say MAXTON now since the name change..

But basically its a improvement on ie, without removing the good things of ie...in a simple way of explaining it..

Yes we've had this discussion before. I didn't agree with you then and I don't now.
If you set up your browser correctly and don't act irresponsibly (and that includes visiting warez and cracker sites to download the latest cracked games) there's nothing to worry about.

Problem is that most people don't set up their browser correctly (maybe MS should lock down some more things by default, true) and do visit such sites. But you can't blame Microsoft for their users (maybe out of ignorance) acting irresponsibly.

catweazle, jwenting, this is a very interesting topic to me (and probably many others) and maybe it has been discussed before but I would like to see more details to do with the opinions expressed here.

First, j, how does one set up IE responsibly?

Second, cat, exactly how do web pages interfere with the inner workings of Windows?

It´s not that I want you two to kiss and make up over this - I feel that we are talking about something fundamental in protecting ourselves and our private domains...I´m really tired of those ¨outside¨ influences being able to bother me.

I´ve expressed my opinion that most of the trouble comes from email and not the browser, although I´m certain there is some problems there as well.

But, let me give one example of what´s happening on my net. My wife and I have one computer apiece that we use as our main computers. I´ve just set up and cleaned up my entire network within the last month. Already, hers is loaded with virus and spyware, whereas mine is relatively free. I don´t find virus on mine and spyware is miniscule. Although I sanitize everything as well as I can a couple of times a week, hers is always more loaded than mine.

The one variable, other than the sites we visit and email we receive, is that I get my email on a laptop connected to the net, and she gets it on the same machine. My laptop doesn´t get virus either, BUT it has norton enterprise running on it. I am running my main machine without anitvirus, as a test, just checking it periodically with an online antivirus. Same with hers.

She claims she doesn´t open mail she doesn´t recognize and only goes to reputable web pages. So what is the difference? There must be something there, although the computers are virtually identical in setup.