In my last blog, I talked about five reasons to love Firefox. Number one was “Security” but I didn’t explain why Firefox was more secure than Internet Explorer. The answer will surprise you.
To understand how this all works, first you have to understand open source code vs closed code. (When I say code, I mean the programming code used to build the program.) There are two schools of thought in the computer world: a) You can build a program and hide the code used to build that program, thus forcing hackers to run all sorts of incredibly difficult equations and programs in order to figure out how the program was built, thereby find the holes in the security and build viruses that exploit those holes, or b) You can build an open source program, where anyone who wants to know how a program was built can read the code, thus giving hackers a much easier time in finding the security holes in the program. It’s the equivalent of posting a sign outside your door saying, “The hide-a-key is underneath the doormat” vs making the burglar look long and hard for the hide-a-key.
Microsoft decided to do closed source code (in other words, no signs posted saying where the key to the front door was hidden.) The result? People dedicating their time and energy into finding every loophole, every security breach–anything they can use to wreak havoc on the program.
The open source programs, such as Open Office and Firefox, don’t have nearly the problems with hacking and viruses. Part of this is due to the fact that there aren’t as many users of OO and Firefox as there are Word and Internet Explorer, but for the most part, it is a study of human nature: Apparently, when someone posts a great big sign saying, “This is how to break into my house,” it isn’t nearly as fun for people to break in as it is trying to get into a house with bars over the windows and electronic security cameras at every door. Where’s the thrill in that?
There is also the fact that Firefox was built from the ground up to be more secure than Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer was built to make things very easy for the people browsing, but this ended up making things very easy for the hackers too. Hackers exploit every loophole they can find, and Internet Explorer leaves some rather large loopholes with their code.
There is nothing worse than trying to work and not being able to because there are too many viruses busy destroying your computer. Firefox is not completely virus free, but it’s a heck of a lot closer than Internet Explorer. If you are concerned about security and virus protection on your computer, installing Firefox is one of the best ways to start yourself on the road to a safer computer.
Happy browsing!