VSVS

Web browser or internet browser is..

• ..a software application for retrieving, presenting and traversing information resourses on the World Wide Web. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser)

• ..is the most important piece of software on your computer because every web page runs though it ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXPcaRlBqo )

Windows Internet Explorer (IE or MSIE) is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft. It’s free and open source browser which attained a peak of about 95% usage share during 2002 and 2003 and now has dropped to 42%.

Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser originated and managed by Mozilla Corporation. As of February 2011, Firefox is the second most widely used browser with approximately 30% of worldwide usage share

of web browser.

Usage share of web browsers

The main features to determine which browser is the

best:• Web standards support• The amount of functions available • Speed• Web browser protection

Web standard

Internet explorer

Mozilla Firerfox

CSS2 Y YFrames Y YJava Y YJavaScript Y Y

XHTML N YHTML5 Y YRSS Y Y

Internet protocol

Internet explorer

Mozilla Firerfox

Atom Y YE-mail N Plagin

FTP Y YNNTP N PlaginSSL Y YIRC N Plagin

Gopher Y Partly

Web standards supportWeb standards is a general term for the formal

standards and other technical specifications that define and describe aspects of the World Wide

Web

Acid Test

BrowserBrowser Acid1Acid1 Acid2Acid2 Acid3Acid3Internet Explorer Y Y 20/100Mozila Firefox Y Y 94/100

Test which determine the web browser’s correspondence with current web standards

Browser speed comparison

Browser speed comparisoncontinued

Browser speed comparisoncontinued

Functionality - similarities

• Both of these browsers include basic features such as: bookmark management, download management, password managing, spell checking, search engine toolbar, auto-updater.

Functionality - differences

Internet Explorer is a browser where all

features available are built-in. There are no

extra plug-ins or additional applications

to increase it’s functionality, except plug-in accelerator.

Mozilla Firefox is a full package product and there are possibilities to add many plug-ins,

themes and supplements (apps)

that you may want to customize.

Some of Mozilla Firefox apps available

• Adblock Plus 1.3.3. To stop annoying commercials and avoid banners.

• iMacros for Firefox 7.1.1.2. To remember all your passwords and form completed.

• InvisibleHand 3.0.2. Automatically get the lowest price when you shop online or search for flights.

• etc. :-)

• These two browsers have almost identical vulnerability. Since they are the most popular between users they are also the most popular between hackers as well.

Browser protection

Browser protection

Most of our time on computers is spent using the internet. Therefore the web browser is the first thing that hackers try to attack on computers. Protection of course is dependant upon the web browser’s inventors, to react quickly on every hacker attack and to fill the weak gaps, but in the same time protection is dependant upon you as well. So, you should keep your eye on antivirus program updates and try to avoid doubtfull web pages.

ConclusionWe have many choices which browser to use and all of them are slightly different (one might be a little faster while other has more nice and slick apps). But most of all the browser should be fast, functional and save. You should chose one according to your needs since there is no clear answer which is the best.