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Why Use an Alternative Browser?
When you think of browsers for the computer, do you automatically
think of Microsoft Internet Explorer? If so, you could be limiting your
internet experience, or worse, opening your computer up to the
possibility of corruption by a virus or spyware. Although Microsoft
Internet Explorer comes installed with the Windows operating system,
because of its widespread use, hackers target this browser most often.
Realistically, no browser is completely safe from viruses and spyware,
but alternative browsers may provide more privacy and better security.
There are many browsers to try in place of Internet Explorer, some of
which are free. Never try to uninstall Explorer, because it is integrated with other programs in Windows. It is okay to have multiple browsers installed on your computer.
Try an alternative browser for:
- Greater speed on the internet: Internet Explorer has a much larger file size than most other browsers, so it takes more memory to run.
- More stability: Because
Explorer is such a big program, it is more prone to bugs. It is also
integrated with Windows. If it crashes, you may have to restart your
computer.
- New Look/Different Surfing Experience: Other
browsers offer a different view of the web, and a new surfing
experience. You can apply fun customizations to try out a new look and
feel. Some browsers come with features that Explorer lacks, such as
tabbed browsing.
- Enhanced Security: As previously mentioned,
Explorer is particularly vulnerable to virus infection. Switching
browsers makes you less of a target. No matter what browser you use,
always install and run virus protection software. Read the articles on virus protection for more information.
Most web pages are designed to be viewed in Explorer. Occasionally,
you may notice a web page's layout looks incorrect, or some
functionality is lost. If this occurs, you can view the page in
Internet Explorer.
Browsers Available
There are a multitude of alternative browsers to choose from. The following are some well-known alternative browsers.
For Windows and Mac:
For Mac Only:
Click here for ratings of the above browsers and downloads for each. |
