Steven "Bill" Seabolt
Owner

All current versions of Microsoft Windows ships with only Internet Explorer as it's default web browser.  The problem with that is many virus writers target security vulnerabilites in Internet Explorer (here after referred to as IE) because of it's major market share.  For this reason alone you are safer using an alternative browser rather than the default IE.  There are several after market web browsers out there but the one I prefer the most Mozilla Firefox.

For me the biggest reason to ditch IE for a better browser is security.  While microsoft has fixed some flaws with IE8 there are still issues that allow hackers to exploit it.  Firefox has taken the property security measures to keep you covered. The built in anti-malware feature protects you from viruses and spyware, as well as trojans that may find their way in when visiting any questionable sites. Firefox also includes anti-phishing software that allows you to do your internet shopping and business safely. For example, if you try to navigate to a page that’s pretending to be one of your trusted sites, Firefox will pick up on this and give you the option to leave, thus ensuring you can trust the sites you’re visiting when shopping or banking online.  There is also a built in popup blocker that stops sites from installing malware onto your machine via the popup add.

Another big reason for using Firefox is speed. With Firefox you can enjoy faster load times thanks to the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. TraceMonkey is a code add-on to Firefox’s existing JavaScript engine, which, (to avoid boring you with all the tech-ey details) essentially makes the code faster and more efficient. Firefox also uses less physical memory than Internet Explorer, which allows you to do more with your computer while browsing, uploading or downloading.

Another thing that Firefox does especially well is tabbed browsing. Using tabs will clear up your taskbar (for all you Windows users) and organize all of your open web pages into one convenient window. You can also choose to save your open tabs upon exit so that they will pop up the next time you open Firefox, and take advantage of the Session Restore feature, that will pick up where you left off after an unexpected shut down. With these features, you’ll never lose your place again!

Do you upload photos? Do you use YouTube? Are you a Facebook user? Well, no matter what your forte, Firefox has add-ons that will appeal to you. TONS, (over 6,000 really) of add-ons let you get the most out of your browsing experience. Things like link previewers, photo uploaders, and weather widgets allow you to streamline and simplify your everyday tasks and routines, as well as offer you some cool new functionality. My personal favorite addons are Adblock Plus (does just what it says, it blocks adds) and Sxipper (great for keeping track of all your usernames and passwords).
You can also download and customize browser themes that will change the look and feel of the browser itself, allowing you to further personalize your internet experience. 

Who doesn’t like a little privacy? Firefox offers many different features that can help you feel more at ease when surfing your favourite pages. One particularly cool feature is Private Mode. Private Mode allows you to browse without leaving any kind of digital “fingerprints” behind. This can be handy to use on public computers, or just to keep those nosy siblings guessing! Also, if you’re surfing and you change your mind about going to a specific site, you can use the Forget this Site feature. This allows you to remove any trace of going to a specific site; again, great for public computers.