If You’re Using Internet Explorer 6, Stop. Now.
If you’re using Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6), you’re putting you and your clients’ security at risk. Learn how to make sure you’re using a secure, modern internet browser, and why Internet Explorer 6 is so dangerous.
Internet Explorer’s security holes
Recently Google announced that the Chinese government hacked into political dissidents’ Google-run email accounts. In the midst of all the spy drama and human rights concern, a small detail was lost on many — what allowed the Chinese to hack into certain gmail accounts was that the owners were using IE 6, a nine-year-old, insecure, outdated, dysfunctional browser.
What’s wrong with Internet Explorer 6?
There are two main problems with IE 6:
1) IE 6 not secure.
You may have heard that you can avoid viruses by not clicking on strange files or downloading strange programs. That’s true some of the time, but by using a browser like IE 6 you can contract a virus merely by visiting an infected web page. Hackers often infect otherwise reputable websites as a way to spread viruses. Once you get a virus, everything on your computer, from your credit card information to your clients’ confidential files, are at the mercy of hackers.
2) IE 6 doesn’t render web pages properly because many websites do not support it.
Youtube, Google, Amazon…the list goes on. Major companies are dropping support for IE 6 left and right. What this means is that if you visit a website that doesn’t support IE 6 and you’re using it, the website won’t function properly. It’ll be like viewing the world through broken glasses.
How to tell if you’re using IE 6
Despite the above problems, people continue to use IE 6 in disturbingly large numbers. So how do you know if you’re using the dreaded IE 6? It’s simple. Go to Help>About Internet Explorer. There it will list the version number.
Better yet, if you insist on using Internet Explorer instead of a better browser, just go to Microsoft and make sure you have the latest version: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx
Alternative browsers
Many people prefer to avoid Internet Explorer completely, whether it’s the current version or an outdated one, which is why alternatives like Firefox and Chrome are picking up steam.
I prefer to use Firefox for better security and user experience. Without a doubt, Firefox has had a much better security track record than Internet Explorer and, security aside, Firefox also has a multitude of free add ons you can use which aren’t available for IE, like this one which gives you free access to PACER documents.
To download Firefox, just go here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html
