As an avid Internet user, I was constantly being frustrated by the lack of customizations, security and tools available when using Internet Explorer to surf the web and do business. I switched to Mozilla Firefox as my default web browser several years ago, and have never looked back.

These are just a few reasons why I find Mozilla Firefox to be a better browser than Internet Explorer:

* There are literally thousands of totally free ways to customize your Firefox to fit exactly what you like to do online.

* It’s 100% open-source, which means that if you don’t like the way something in Firefox works, you can crack open the hook and make changes to it. To learn how to make Firefox your very own personalized web browser, go to Google.com and try a search on “Firefox addons” or “customize Firefox”. Explore the possibilities! Ever tried customizing Internet Explorer to make it work exactly how you want it? Not exactly possible. You CAN make some changes to the way Internet Explorer works, but you will find you are limited to a few things. That’s it.

* It’s more secure than Internet Explorer (this is my big reason to use Firefox). Internet Explorer is a window into your computer’s operating system, if you are a Microsoft Windows user, since Internet Explorer is built in as part of your computer’s proprietary file explorer/handler and operating shell. Ever notice how, when you are browsing your “My Documents” folder (or any other computer folder, for that matter), you can type in a web address into the file’s address bar, and boom! You are now browsing that web page on the Internet? That’s one simple example of how Internet Explorer is like having the blinds up on one of the windows in your house at night, with all the lights on. Everyone driving or walking by your house can see what’s inside and what you are doing. With Firefox (or other browsers like Opera), they are not part of your computer’s system, and so they remain separate from it, allowing you to have more privacy and security.

* Protection against web forgery and phishing. Firefox has built-in protection tools to show you when you are visiting a site that is trying desperately to steal your identity, your passwords or financial information. Whenever you happen to visit sites trying to do this, a fake bank sites, fake eBay site or forged PayPal login pages, for example, you will see a large red bar at the top from Firefox, warning you that they have detected the site as a forgery or phishing site.

There are many more reasons why Firefox is better, plus it is a just plain more enjoyable way to surf and use the Internet!

Get Firefox for free and switch to it as your main browser now!

Read more about the benefits of Firefox, plus tips & tricks.

PS - Yes, the word “Internet” is supposed to always be capitalized.

Copyright © Bobbi Jo Woods - published September 7, 2009 at http://www.webprospeak.com

About the author:
Bobbi Jo is the owner of B. Woods Design, a St. Paul Web Design company - http://bwoodsdesign.com