Although I use Firefox for 95% of my internet usage, I was wondering if it is necessary to update my IE 6 to IE 7 for security reasons, or should I use the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude.
http://img116.exs.cx/img116/934/z0tdntknw.gif
Ro Ro 8) 8)
The decision is yours but I’d go for “…don’t fix it” option. Even MS is not recommending users to upgrade to their beta product only for the purpose of avoiding the issue. However, of course, as alwasy, using Firefox doesn’t ensure that you are totally safe c.f.[u]Hackers claim zero-day flaw in Firefox[/u]. So, it would be suitable for you to keep your control java script with NoScript and probably DropMyRights. I, myself, almost always keep the java/java script off.
Will IE7 improve this spotty record? Perhaps. According to Microsoft’s Tony Chor, a Group Program Manager on the Internet Explorer team, part of the problem was old, sloppy code. “Over time, IE had developed 13 or 14 different places in the code where we place URLs. Inconsistent results allowed us to get beat. This is where we rearchitected a big part of IE so that one routine evaluates the URL.” Microsoft is betting that the new URL parser will make it easier for developers to avoid vulnerabilities in the first place and to fix them more quickly when they do appear. But only time will tell whether that effort will pay off as expected.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=109#more-109
As even MS seem to be admitting it’s broke, I’d go for the fix it option, at least for anybody using IE as their default browser. The beta has been out for a long time and several users have reported favourably here- it does seem to be more secure, and the advantages may outweigh any risks of installing a beta product.
The final version is due out soon, and as you don’t use IE much, I go with Smiths’s advice in your case and don’t fix it …yet. Of course, get IE7 when it comes out.
Watch out for any warnings of exploits in the wild for the zero-day flaw Smith mentioned, or consider the excellent Opera browser, which is not reported to be affected.
I’d disagree I have been using IE7 since the first beta and I have found it stable and more secure (no security fixes yet !)
As FwF says, Opera may not be a bad option since it is not so often targeted.
It’s very kind of you testing it for us. ;D
Roro seems to be caught in cross-fire - just kidding, we can state our opinions but, as I wrote, the choice is, of course, up to you since it’s your computer. 
The short answer is Yes, since IE is an integral part of the OS in XP. However, I wouldn’t be to quick in jumping on this when it is released.
I will certainly be waiting for a few months (at least) to allow them to iron out the minor kinks which will undoubtedly be found when it is released to everyone with all the different system setups out there, let them be the guniea pigs. There are bound to be issues you can’t cater for everything even as widely the IE7 beta or RC1 versions were released.
I’m using IE7 RC1 for about month now, and I can say it is very stable, and strange… but it is unbelievable fast. Sometimes beats even Firefox in starting speed. In conclusion I can say: it’s stable, fast and improved in important places. At the moments it’s the main browser at my PC and I even like it more than FF. Worth to try, if you still on IE6, but have in mind - it’s still BETA, so you’ll be responsable for any problems, not Microsoft.
It is RC1 now and even seems to uninstall properly. I managed to get rid of it at least. Also I think you can dig up a version which can install side by side with IE6. Not another version really but a hack of installation. Look it up on Digg, Google. Can imagine many use that. RC1 uninstalled for me but may be some got burned with Beta 1 or 2. And then what? Have to live with it then. Those who develope web stuff also would prefer the genuine IE6 - IE7 comparison. Dont know what happens with IE6 security if IE7 becomes main browser! Guess it blows and should go but someone must have done some thoughts about that.
You use Winamp? What browser engine is embedded in Media Library? IE is all over the place 
Using Firefox does not help much unless you think just browsing around with IE6 is risky.
Lol… IE was always faster at least double speed when it comes to startup than lazy Firefox. IE7 is really rockin’
Even some people like to wait long time before they board this IE7 ship or anything else Microsoft related, no one can say that switching from IE6 to IE7 is not that good choice. Why ? Just because, even it’s still in this beta testing (or RC) phase, it’s well known that IE7 fixed a lot of things that bugged IE6, and above all, it is at least 10 times safer. Even if there will be some glitches and similar stuff, it will still be much, much safer than IE6 was, is or will ever be. So, why having something that’s already outdated, and transformed into much better and improved version. Of course, I am talking about IE7 when it goes gold… just because of these new and not so experienced users. I would never ever recommend them to “play” with beta versions just because we all are well aware how those things usually ends.
I myself am testing this IE7 from the very first day, and I never ever had any single problem with it. It simply increased the quality of browsing, made it much more enjoyable (RSS feeds and bunch of other features) and of course much safer. Same thing will happen in the future… I am sure, no matter how safe and improved IE7 is, there will always be some people with nothing more important to do in their lives, who will keep searching for flaws and how to crash IE7. But that’s just because they hate it so much that they just simply have to “prove” something to Microsoft or whoever… what they are not thinking about, is that this way they are ruining lives of millions of people around the globe. Firefox is not far from this scenario. We are already witnessing more and more security updates on their side too.
So we know that there will always be those security updates around us… so why not board the ship now and start patching everything. If nothing else, it will be a good exercise
So, who suffers ? Normal ordinary people, no one else.
Software’s just like anyother product. If the manufacturer let’s you down, and you find another product that works well, your loyalty is going to shift. MS has got kicked in the pants over security and features (lack of) in IE6, but just because IE7 is better than IE6 doesn’t mean that users of other browsers are going to be queuing up to come back to it. IE7 is going to have to attract users back from other browsers they have grown accustomed to and even like. If it’s good enough to do that fine, but I get sick of this Firefox Fanboys/MS haters BS. Frankly the IE fanboys are just as bad, with the way they look at IE7 as something to bring the lost sheep back to the fold. Everything good about IE7 is ‘one less reason to use Firefox’:
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1455
Well it’s not an issue of freedom, motherhood and apple pie, or of communism and anti-capitalism, as some people seem to think. If I’m not going to use IE7 despite how good it is, it’s not because of any philosophical reason. It’s just because I got used to something else. So what?
PS, I’m writing this in Opera, so if anybody’s going to start callong me a fanboy…
Well it's not an issue of freedom, motherhood and apple pie, or of communism and anti-capitalism, as some people seem to think. If I'm not going to use IE7 despite how good it is, it's not because of any philosophical reason. It's just because I got used to something else. So what?PS, I’m writing this in Opera, so if anybody’s going to start callong me a fanboy…
Not at all I use IE7 but the wife likes FF so we use both - personal preference old chum…personal preference can’t beat it
personal preference can't beat it
That’s exactly what I was saying!
I was speaking about those who try and make it into something more than that.
Well, in my ole Hillbilly lingo I call it “different strokes for different folks”. I use whatever browser that is at my disposal that works BEST for me. I don’t use a product if it doesn’t perform to my satisfaction.
You are real example of freedom of choice, right. Just like you started to rage on every single post Mastertech posted in this forum. Why don’t you let people think what they want, and stop replying or even reading their posts then if you are so pissed off ?!!
Fanboy or not… just reread my reply one more time (of course if your eyes still serve you well ). If I even mentioned that word, I wouldn’t say a word now, but you are really trying to piss everybody off in this forum. Go and have a life for a change and let people have their own mind ! :
More than that ? Are you talking to me by any chance ? Are you trying to start something again ? Another anti-Mastertech kind-of thread ? You’re welcome, very welcome…
Calm down, szc.
You’re starting a flame for no reason.
Yes, you’re liking IE7 a lot. Ok, you may. So what?
I wouldn’t recommend anyone on installing beta version of IE just to feel ‘safe’. (Generally, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to use anything IE, but that’s my personal preference).
Mastertech was always punished because he’s a troll and his messages were always heavily fabulated just to create flames. FWF’s mistake is/was only in feeding the troll.
I am calm, you don’t need to calm me down, really… I am.
And again… I am not starting a flame, just go few posts back please. I simply said something in perfectly normal tone, not calling anyone names or anything like that. And he started to do exactly the same thing he did with Mastertech, and he will keep doing this.
Feeding the troll ? Well, maybe, I am not going to go into Mastertech’s reasons and actions, but in this case it sounds like FWF is feeding another “troll”. From your words it may sound like the troll in this case is me, which of couse is not true. Why ? I simply came into thread to give my opinion, not insulting anyone nor calling anyone names. Yet, he found himslef responsible to raise his tone without a single reason. If he really is a Firefox or Opera or whatever else browser fanboy, that’s his problem. Whenever someone says anything pro-Microsoft or pro-IE he feels pissed off for whatever the reason… he shouldn’t read those posts… how simple is that ? We all have right to have our opinion and to say what we think it’s right. I didn’t reply to him, so he shouldn’t have replied to me in that tone.
I’ve read the whole thread. I’ve seen one exaggerated message about IE7 from you and quite neutral message from FWF, followed by few bitter remarks from you.
So from my admin/mod position I’m again asking you to calm down.
I was speaking about those who try and make it into something more than that.Unfortunately you've done just exactly that on more than a few occasions. Is Sasha now the next person on your hit list? Tech used to call this a brotherhood. Wonder what he'd call it now?
This is outrageous that’s all I can say !
Is this what I’ve deserved for being around and trying to help everybody whenever I can ? If it is, all I can say is THANKS ALWIL !!!
Oh yes, I am still calm, I just have to react when I see something like this.