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Helpful Hints for Using Firefox

Firefox, an internet browser, is well-liked for many reasons.  Easy accessibility, beginner-friendly elements, and useful features make it one of the most reliable tools for the internet.

 

Most of the included items in Firefox are typical for web browsers.  First, tabbed browsing makes it possible to view multiple windows at once.  Simply by clicking an additional “tab” at the top of the screen, users can keep current items at hand while moving on to new projects and information.  This is helpful for those who are completing projects or choosing between two items online.  Direct comparisons can be made and key points can be fused easily.

 

Locating information has never been easier.  With Firefox, typing ctrl+k can bring up a search bar immediately.  Also, right clicking on a highlighted word generates a search as well.  Users can find definitions, answers to questions, or pertinent information in a snap.  Or one click to be exact.

Internet Access: Image Download

Image Location:  http://computerlcd.org/Magician_Economic_Computer_19_LCD.jpg

Firefox makes downloads easy through a tool called background downloading.  Basically, items that are to be downloaded begin immediately, and by the time users save them to disk, they are already finished.  Firefox is quick when it comes to putting information on the computer.  Usually, it takes just as much time to choose where to store the information as it does to actually download it.

 

One last important element of Firefox is this:  it’s largely successful due to those who use it.  Improvements are made through user’s suggestions, and anyone is able to communicate with the Firefox team leaders.  Source codes are readily available at all times.

Filed Under: Advantages, FireFox Tagged With: , ,

Advantages of Firefox 4

Over 4.7 million computer users have downloaded the new Firefox 4 browser. After nearly a year of beta testing the browser, tech savvy computer users already know the many changes that come with the Firefox 4 browser. However, less tech savvy computer users might be wondering why they should switch their old 3.0 version to a 4.0 version.

 

For those computer users who have not been obsessing over the beta version of Firefox 4, here’s a look at some of the great features that come with this new update for one of the most popular web browsers on the web.

 

A Merged Top Tab 

Image representing Firefox as depicted in Crun... 

Image via CrunchBase

 

Previous versions of Firefox had the top tab all spread out. The Firefox 4 has a compact, merged top tab. This means all the functions such as file, edit and tools are now under one button and not spread out over the top of the screen.

 

Crash Protection

 

It used to be if a plug-in or other website element caused your browser to crash you would have to shut the whole browser down or your window would completely disappear. With the crash protection feature on Firefox 4 the plug-in or website that is causing the crash is frozen and your browser will not be effected at all.

 

Increased Speed

 

Firefox 4 brings an increased web browsing experience. Internet users will be able to pull up websites and open new tabs with a speed that other Firefox versions did not have. Java has also been sped up and Java downloads happen quicker with Firefox 4.

 

With all these advantages it’s no wonder 4.7 million people have switched to Firefox 4 already.

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Filed Under: Advantages, FireFox Tagged With: ,

How to Choose the Browser that is Right for You

We are seeing information about the release of several new and updated versions of internet browsers. Internet Explorer is coming out with IE9, there is a new Google Chrome, and Firefox is working on Firefox 4. So if they all do basically the same thing; opening websites, allow you to check email, access to social networking, and all other basic internet functions, does it really matter which one you use?

The answer to that really depends on who you are and what type of internet user you are. If you think about how much time you spend on the internet it could really make a difference. For example, if you spend at least 4 hours a day browsing on the internet, if you choose a browser that is faster, you could save almost 30 minutes a day with a quicker browser.

It is important to keep in mind what you will be using the browser for before you make a choice. There are some applications that work better on some than others. For example, if you use Gmail or other Google based applications, your experience will probably be better if you use Chrome. If you like to personalize your browser, Firefox has many add ons that will let you do this.

Security is also a big issue. Each browser has a different way of providing security measures. There are some with filters for malware and phishing sites built right in. It is always a good idea to check out how the security features work before making a choice. If you do a lot of online transactions this is extremely important, so you should make sure you are protected.

It may take some trial and error before you find the browser that works best for you. The good news is that they are all free so you can try them out without much of a risk.

Filed Under: Google Chrome, WWW Tagged With: , , ,

Firefox Security Features

Keeping our computers safe, our identities safe and our children safe is a big issue for most internet users. Firefox has several features to help you do this as you browse the internet. Firefox, like other web browsers is always evolving and changing to make your experience better, but here aer some of the security features that are already in place.

  • Anti-Malware. If you click on a website that wants to attack your computer, Firefox will block you and give you a warning about the site. This, along with you being aware and careful about what you click on will help to keep you safe.
  • Web Site ID. If you want to make a purchase from a site that you are not familiar with, and are wondering if it is legitimate, you can have Firefox give it an overview. You can check on websites you think might be suspicious and find out if a website is what is it claiming to be.
  • Forget This Site. This is a feature that will allow you to remove any trace of a website from your computer. If you clicked on something and then wished you hadn’t, have make it seem like it never happened.
  • Parental Controls. Set the parental controls that you want.
  • Detect Plug-ins that are outdated. Plug-ins can be added to your computer when you need to view a video or play a game. If a plug-in has become outdated, it can be the cause of a security risk. Firefox will let you know if you have an outdated plug-in and then tell you where to go to updated it.
  • Set Your Own Security. You can go in an set your security to the level that you want. If you visit sights often that you know are safe, you can have Firefox make exceptions for these sites. You can also increase security as well if you want extra protection.
Filed Under: FireFox, General Tagged With: , , ,

A Few Good Reasons To Use Google Chrome

The internet browsers have been battling it out for years. With every new release each browser says they have the newest and best technology. Since a browser is used for many more things than just browsing the web, there are quite a few things to take into consideration as you decide which one works for you.

Here are some good reasons why many people are turning to Google Chrome as their main source of web browsing.

  1. It is faster than all the others. It is faster in terms of loading up pages, opening the browser initially, and when you are opening and closing tabs. Some may try to dispute this, but with the newest version there is really no reason to try any more.
  2. Tabbed browsing that shows more of every web page. Chrome does not waste valuable screen space with unnecessary items. It makes full use of all the room you have so you can see more of everything you open.
  3. Compatibility with other Google Products. For those of us who use several other Google products such as gmail, Google docs, the calendar, and even the Google Reader, the whole experience is just much better with Google Chrome.
  4. Bookmark Sync. This type of feature is not just offered by Google, but their version works very well. You can easily save your preferences, bookmarks, and other settings to your Google account so when you open up your browsers on another computer it will look the same.
  5. Google Chrome Web Store. Although there are some critics of the web store, but it is a great place to find extensions, games, and apps that may come in handy as you use Chrome. Again, this is not something that just Google offers, Firefox has a similar set up with their add on’s. but this store has some great stuff for your browsing.
Filed Under: Google Chrome, Web browser Tagged With: , , ,

Safety Extensions for Firefox

Since the beginning of time we can assume people have had to hide their goods away behind lock and key to prevent them from being stolen. For whatever reason there have always been people willing to take what is not theirs.

The same is still true today considering your personal computer. Our machines are under constant attack from the outside world. The assaults come in a variety of forms, using a myriad of methods and it can seem expensive and confusing to gain a little confidence.

Still, understanding your attackers and knowing a good defense doesn’t have to be either expensive or daunting. In fact, just taking two basic steps can relieve a lot of security pain.

The first step is related to ads on the internet. In this instance the thieves are after your demographic information. The advertisers want to know where you have been and what you have been looking at. Ads have a nasty way of leaving behind malware and spyware. Both of these nasty bugs can cause serious problems for your computer.

Adblock Plus is a free add-on available through mozilla.com. Just click Tools, Add-ons and search for ‘Adblock Plus’. Click on the big green ‘Add to Firefox’ button and the browser will do the rest. This feature will block incoming content from a massive list of ad sites, keeping you from ever seeing the banners or bouncing boxes.

Another good step to take is to deny all cookies by default. These little packets of information are where a great deal of trouble is passed along through the internet. Simple go to Tools, the click Options, and the Privacy. Make sure to Disallow all 3rd party cookies by default and Disallow all cookies by default.

The drawback is that now in order to log in anywhere you will have to make an exception for that website.

Filed Under: FireFox, Web browser Tagged With: , ,

The Inside Story on Firefox

Firefox has become a popular browser in the mainstream, with schools and other organizations as the standard to be used for the internet. One of the primary reasons for this is its excellent built in security features, which help to filter out websites that are potential threats. The browser also offers excellent speed when searching on a particular topic. The search results are simple to scan through and are highly relevant to whatever keywords are put into it.

One of fun features of Firefox is the ability to add your own “theme” to your browser. This is an image that runs in a strip along the top of the page and across the bottom. Users can create their own style using the application on the start up page, or they can pick from one of thousands that others have designed. There are also characters and actors featured from your favorite movie, and you can change the theme whenever you like.

Firefox does have some issues with certain websites, requiring you to download an add on in order to applications. This can be problematic, and you may have to switch into another browser for trouble free work. These problems are not common, though, and Firefox is worth downloading for its excellent protection features. Schools like this browser as it decreases the chance of someone opening up a harmful site that could put a virus into the system. This makes it a versatile and safe tool to use.

The browser also has several add ons that you can download. If you are a Twitter fan, you can get Echofon, which notifies you if someone you know tweets something interesting. There is also an Amazon add on that allows you to shop at the click of a mouse. Firefox has thousands more that you can pick from, depending on your interests.

Filed Under: FireFox, Web browser Tagged With: ,