What web browser do you use and why?

[GarageGothic]

My girlfriend had something similar on her computer. As Vince said it also blocked any virus checking websites (actually made the browser close whenever I typed hijackthis in the search field). Ended up fixing it by running a boot-time scan with Avast!, because once Windows has started up most well-written viruses/trojans will be undetectable. Also, you may want to turn off the System Restore feature before cleaning because some viruses uses it to revive themselves.

If the rundll32.exe is damaged you can try a Windows Repair instead of a full reinstall, should save you some time.

[InCreator]

Ad-Aware + Spyware Termintaor + Spybot S&D + Malwarebytes AntiMallware (all fully free, no shareware crap), and yeah AVG if you want (I didn't use it that much).

Use them all and...

You are crazy. I takes total dumbuser for need of this much protection. Might aswell turn off the computer, just to be "safe".

[Anian]

You are crazy.

I am crazy, crazy like a fox! 

Hey it'll find anything, and SpyBot will find the bugger in the registries as well (though be carefull when editing those, some might be from other installed programs). I didn't say that it should be used all the time and every program, but if one doesn't work try the next one.
I shall not feel dumb for having a system that works.

[Dataflashsabot]

Firefox. No question there.*

I use Opera Mini for my mobile phone (although I tried BOLT recently, neat, sleek and feature-filled but not quite as stable as Opera Mini.)
Great but it doesn't always display all images. I assumed this was a memory problem, but BOLT displays them all no problem, even on higher quality levels, so I'm not quite sure what to think about that now.

* FOR ME, that is. I also do not try to objectively define one browser as superior.


(since this thread has been bumped back up anyway I might as well post my favorite browser)

[InCreator]

I shall not feel dumb for having a system that works.

Sounds like helluva price for a working system.
I have a system too... that works. The magic formula is...
Windows 7 + Firefox 3 + NoScript addon + sane browsing. Last two provide 99% of security.
AVG for crisis situations, though I haven't encountered one yet.

Had same setup for XP.
Average 2 names of not-dangerous pests (such as tracking cookies) per 3 months or so. I wouldn't call this infested or "not working" any way. I couldn't imagine resources and speed I would have sacrificed with insane setup you suggested...

Then again, for learning grandma, porn-hungry teenager or average dumb housewife looking for a free diet, your suggestion isn't even half of the need.

[Evil]

My girlfriend had something similar on her computer. As Vince said it also blocked any virus checking websites (actually made the browser close whenever I typed hijackthis in the search field). Ended up fixing it by running a boot-time scan with Avast!, because once Windows has started up most well-written viruses/trojans will be undetectable. Also, you may want to turn off the System Restore feature before cleaning because some viruses uses it to revive themselves.

Ugh, I just got one of these over the weekend. The virus rerouted my google searches to ads for porn and whatnot, and blocked all of my attempts to visit any anti-virus website. I never had any problems before, so I didn't have Ad-Aware or Spybot or whatever. But every program that I tried to download would error during the install. I had to go back 3 versions of AVG in order to get it to install. Extreme hassle. I recommend everyone downloading at least Spybot just in case, or like me, you'll spend you're whole weekend trying to fix it.

[Anian]

Then again, for learning grandma, porn-hungry teenager or average dumb housewife looking for a free diet, your suggestion isn't even half of the need.

Well probably are neither most users on this forum. Everybody should get what they feel they need, suggestions are just that, suggestions.
Btw the last thing that my pc "caught" was from a web page with guitar tabs...there is no such thing as "sane" browsing, yeah, avoid most of the porn sites and stay the hell away from keygen sites and such but s*** still happens, or to paraphrase you - might as well not browse the internet, just to be safe.

[m0ds]

Thanks, AVG has solved the majority of the problems, and now firefox and opera are working, yay! I stick to my thing about not liking AV software though...you'd be surprised how easy it can be to eradicate a virus manually, something I unfortunately have about 8 years experience in! But I guess that really depends how willing you are to muck around with your system files, regedits and such. Often it's just a case of a sharp eye and knowing when you last used your PC that can help you eradicate a virus by yourself. You can also work out how to avoid it in the future -- I always get "this" virus when I try and load a crack for something, and that's exactly what I did recently which caused it to infect my PC. Still, all's well again now - thanks for all the tips!

[mkennedy]

For most of my browsing I use Netscape 4, sometimes I use Opera though. On this site I use Netscape 9 because it doesn't work well with version 4

[Ishmael]

Chrome. Because I like it.

[Trent R]

Can't stand IE or Netscape. Right now, I'm switching between Chrome (currently in use) and Firefox 3 every couple of months. Safari is nice if I'm on a Mac, and I've never used Opera.

And Mods, good to hear that your comp is working again.


~Trent

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I'd go back to firefox if the idiots would just put in a switch to disable bilinear filtering.

[monkey0506]

I use FF for several reasons:

1) it's quick like a fox.
2) it's made entirely out of flames.

Actually that about sums it up.

I do agree that FF does need to have an option to change the scaling styles...IIRC someone released an unofficial patch/plug that allowed this but I wasn't at home when I saw it and then I forgotted.

Anyway, IE is the devil for obvious reasons (imaginary sub-standard functionality promoting web page designs that break in any other browser just to name one). Never used Opera but I hear it's...not made out of fire.

[Ubel]

1) it's quick like a fox.

I used Opera for a long time before I switched to Firefox and I hated how much slower FF is. I also prefer Opera's user interface but the thing about Opera is that some modern websites are simply not designed to work in it and sometimes the cache system messes things up. They're coming up with updates and fixes every now and then though and with Opera 10 on its way I'm thinking of switching back.

[Peder 🚀]

As a web designer I usually use them all, but I mostly use Firefox at the moment.
I used to use Opera before but as soon as I found out it was Norwegian I stopped using it (kidding offcourse..)

I just wish everyone who makes these browsers would make them bloody react the same to HTML codes and such. It is so annoying having to try your websites in every bloody browser just to see if it shows it right or not....
IE has at least finally with version 8 made it react more similar to Firefox etc...

[Wonkyth]

I use Firefox.
I've only tried a few (chrome, opera, IE) of the browsers out there, but I'm most comfortable with good old FF.
IE seems always one step behind and doesn't have the nice layout, and Chrome feels too.....empty.

[Trent R]

My bro just told me about the new Profiles feature of Firefox. Seems pretty cool.

@monkey, have you seen the IETab plugin? That's what a lot of people use to circumvent that problem.

~Trent

[monkey0506]

I've had IETab longer than you've had sentient thought my friend.

I'm comfortable with FF and I hear a lot of people tell me "if you used Opera you'd like it better" but frankly I just simply don't care. FF works well for me and I like the way that I have it customized. I know for a fact certain FF plugins don't have an Opera equivalent.

P.S., I am quoting this as a record of the date you became sentient...("Date Registered:     05 Jun 2007, 15:51"). 8)

[Oliwerko]

ng time before I switched to Firefox and I hated how much slower FF is. I also prefer Opera's user interface but the thing about Opera is that some modern websites are simply not designed to work in it and sometimes the cache system messes things up. They're coming up with updates and fixes every now and then though and with Opera 10 on its way I'm thinking of switching back.

I remember a considerable amount of non-opera-compatibile pages from the older versions, that's true. Now, I have the...let's see....9.64.
I'm not getting web page display issues like that anymore, they improved a lot since the older versions. That is to say, I'm still sticking in Opera 

[m0ds]

Cheers Trent!

Well, Opera worked for a good whole 5 minutes before it decided it can't reach any web-page whatsoever with a "400 bad request", ergo it's time to delete that piece of shit!