What does one mean when they say, "Firefox is more secure than Internet Explorer?

[pluckypigeon]

I don't use IE but I'm just curious.

Thanks.

[kidux]

Firefox doesn't allow spy/adware to run, so you don't get all the breaches from that. It has better security settings in general. Plus with add ons like AdBlock and Flashblock, you can further enhance the security and safety.

[utkuaydin]

Microsoft can't solve security problems as fast as Mozilla. That makes Firefox safer than Internet Explorer I think.

[bodhi.zazen]

I think they mean that Firefox is more secure then IE.

Firefox is freely available (as are several browsers) so if you run windows, consider installing an alternate browser.

IE is also more tightly integrated into the system, meaning if IE is cracked the cracker has more extensive access to the system.

If you wish, see google for further details :

http://www.google.com/search?q=internet+explorer+security+flaws&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox-a

I am going to move this to recurring discussions as it is an overly broad title and falls into the Linux vs Microsoft category.

[Therion]

In a word: ActiveX. This is a huuuge, gaping security nightmare in Internet Explorer. Firefox does not use ActiveX.

Furthermore, IE is integrated with the Windows operating system itself. To get the importance of this across, let me use the following metaphor: If I can do something that infects one of your fingers, I can theoretically infect your whole body because your finger is integrated with your body. Firefox, on the other hand is totally self-contained. This is why you can run Firefox from, say for instance, a USB thumb drive. It runs totally independent of an operating system.

[Giant Speck]

Firefox is not made by Microsoft and is therefore perfect in every way and completely infallible.

:lolflag:

Just kidding!

[Wush.S.H]

Because fiefox can not interpret some malignant code that can only be interpreted by IE.

[ikisham]

Also when Firefox started IE was almost alone in the browser business ans M$ didn't give a s*it to improving its security. The history is here:
http://toastytech.com/evil/