Internet Explorer 10 is now the default browser in Windows 7 and Windows 8 systems.
But is it the best browser? Or is the best browser actually multiple browsers for different applications?
Browser history: From one to … a few
Like everything in personal computing, Web browsers have evolved significantly over the years. I’m old enough to remember when there was only one good browser — Netscape Navigator. You had to pay for it, but for the most part, every website worked as expected on the browser — as long as Web designers followed a few guidelines. Then Microsoft released Internet Explorer and gave it away free.
That was a quaint concept by today’s standards, but for a time it did allow IE to rapidly corner nearly the entire browser market and effectively kill off Netscape Navigator. The numbers are squishy, but taken together, the various versions of IE still own more than half the browser market. But it faces stiff competition from Chrome and Firefox — along with Safari, Opera, and a few others.
Just as we were trying to get comfortable with IE 10 (primarily on Windows 7), Microsoft surprised most technology watchers by announcing in a July 25 IEBlog post the availability of Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7 (download page).
So without further delay, let me give my final recommendation on whether you should install Internet Explorer 10. The answer? A qualified yes. There are still sites that might not play well with IE 10, but none of the sites I use regularly have a problem with the browser.
For the few sites that fail with IE 10, the best solution is to open the site in IE’s Compatibility View mode. As noted in a Windows Server Essentials and Small Business Server Blog post, you can use IE 10′s Compatibility View Settings (under the Tools menu) to list all sites that should be displayed in compatibility mode. Adding the site to IE’s list of trusted zones can also be helpful. Simply select Tools/Internet Options/Security and then click the Trusted sites button. Paste the site’s URL into the entry box, as shown in Figure 1. (Some sites will be placed into compatibility mode automatically.)
Figure 1. In IE 10, problematic sites can be placed onto the browser's Compatibility View list.
If a website still behaves badly after you add it to IE 10′s trusted-site list and/or you use Compatibility View, your best bet is to try the site in another browser. Here’s a quick rundown of your options:
Chrome: Good browser, but security questioned
Any site that doesn’t display well in IE 10 will probably work fine in Chrome (site). Google’s browser might be the youngest in its class, but it has rapidly gained market share and die-hard fans. Once installed, Chrome keeps itself updated automatically and with minimal user interaction. This means that new vulnerabilities generally get patched quickly.
My one complaint about Chrome is that it’s often prechecked as add-on software when you download other applications. If you’re not paying attention, Chrome suddenly takes over as your default browser.
Chrome relies on the same network settings as your computer, as noted in a Chrome help page. Thus if you need to rely on proxy settings for a website, you might need to adjust the network settings for your entire computer — a task that might not be easy nor be your preference.
Also, Chrome was recently on the hot seat for how it handles saved passwords, as noted in a Gizmodo blog. The company was taken to task for showing saved passwords. On the other hand, Chrome users also complained that it loses passwords, according to a bug report.
Firefox: A community-built Web browser
Firefox is a descendant of Netscape Navigator and the first browser to truly challenge IE. Older than Chrome and still extremely popular, it’s increasingly the target of security attacks. Firefox Version 23 (site) now adds mixed content–blocking enabled to protect users from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdroppers. Upcoming editions will support updating without admin rights (as Chrome does now), as noted in the Developer forum. Mozilla, Firefox’s developer, is supported by a robust community of developers who provide various add-ons for protecting the browser.
Safari: Apple’s browser works on Windows, too
Safari is Apple’s in-house browser for OS X and iOS devices. But it’s used on a few Windows systems, too. I confess I’ve never been a fan of the browser — mainly due to the Apple iTunes and QuickTime updaters, which often offer up Safari as well. I’ve found Safari on many PCs, and their owners had no idea how the browser ended up on their systems. (Both Chrome and Firefox have OS X versions as well.)
Opera: a small browser with a loyal following
According to a recent ZDNet story, the folks running the Tor Project (more info) recommended that their users move away from Windows. Apparently, some Tor users were targeted by an attack that exploited an older version of Firefox included with the Tor software.
The flaw in their recommendation was, of course, telling users not to use Windows. What they should have recommended was to make sure you’re using an up-to-date browser — or to use a browser that gets less attention from hackers.
Opera fits that bill. The browser (site) is similar to Firefox and Chrome, installs quickly, and is better suited for lower-powered laptops and desktops. I find I use it more and more. Like Firefox, it lets you enter network proxy settings that are different and independent from your standard network settings. That’s handy when you’re traveling and wish to stream your favorite TV shows and download movies.
The multi-browser choice: Because browsers are free and relatively small, there’s a growing trend toward using multiple browsers. It’s easy to try them all and see which you prefer. Just remember to either keep them all up to date or remove those you no longer use.
IE’s reliance on graphics hardware for speed
First, I must remind you that, whatever IE version you use, it’s important to keep the browser fully up to date — even if you rarely (or never) use it. Because Microsoft embeds IE code deep within Windows (for example, Windows Update uses IE code), keeping IE patched also helps keep Windows fully updated.
Now back to IE’s graphics issues. IE was never known for its speed, but slow webpage rendering became acute with IE 9, due to its heavy reliance on GPU hardware acceleration. On older systems that don’t support hardware-accelerated graphics, IE 9 drops down to Software Rendering mode. The only immediate indicator of the change is annoyingly slow browsing.
MS Support article KB 2398082 discusses the problem and provides steps for checking whether software rendering is enabled. As shown in Figure 2, you’ll find the option in Tools/Internet Options/Advanced.
Figure 2. If Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering is checked, your system does not currently support hardware-accelerated graphics.
You’ll most commonly see IE switch to software rendering on low-powered laptops that have integrated graphics. On those systems, IE could easily soak up limited CPU resources. IE might also switch into software rendering if it no longer supports your installed graphics drivers. That was one of the early problems with IE 10 for Windows 7, typically solved by upgrading to the latest graphics drivers or, on desktops, by purchasing a new graphics card.
To check the age of a video card, click Start/Control Panel/System and then click the Device Manager link. Find your video card under Display adapters, and right-click to open its properties. Click the Driver tab to review the driver provider, date, and version (see Figure 3). If the driver is more than a year old, check the manufacturer’s website for newer versions.
Figure 3. Use Windows' Device Manager to find details on your graphics driver.
Resist the temptation to click the Update Driver button. You’re better off getting the driver directly from the graphics-card manufacturer. That rule applies to Windows Update, which might also offer new graphics drivers.
If none of those solutions works, consider switching to another browser.
Falling back to an older, less secure browser
When an important site fails in IE 10 and you’ve tried all the tricks — compatibility mode, trusted-site zone, new drivers, and even other browsers — you’ll have to uninstall IE 10 and roll back to IE 9. But before you do so, contact the owner of the failing website or application and ask why they’re not supporting any current versions of the leading browsers — and why they’re forcing you to use something less secure.
(Recently, Windows Secrets reader Martin Thelen pointed me to a security report on unpatched vulnerabilities in IE 8 and 9, primarily affecting XP users. The report focused on problems with hidden shares on Windows PCs. The solution, also detailed in MS Support article 314984 and in a Super User forum, is impractical for the average PC user. You’re better served by simply using a password to sign in to your system.)
A how-to for installing and uninstalling IE 10
Before adding IE 10, ensure that you have the preparatory update KB 2670838 installed. Two other patches, KB 2834140 and KB 2836502, are needed to resolve some IE 10–related issues.
To remove IE 10 and roll back to IE 9, go to Windows’ application uninstaller (Start/Control Panel/Programs/Programs and Features). Click View installed updates; when Windows finishes building the list, click the “Names” column header to sort by update name. Scroll to the bottom of the update list, and you should see Windows Internet Explorer 10 listed (see Figure 4). Click to uninstall; Windows will return you to the previously installed browser version.
Figure 4. Look in the View installed updates list for IE 10.
Browser use: From one to … multiple
So you’ve come to the end of this article expecting me pronounce the single best browser. I can’t — not any more. Yes, once upon a time I’d unequivocally had said it was Netscape Navigator. Now my best advice is to keep multiple browsers on your system (and keep them all current). Along with Chrome, Firefox, and IE, add Opera — which also works nicely on Android phones and tablets (site).
On Firefox, install and use the NoScript add-on (download page), which blocks JavaScript and Java code downloaded by untrusted sites.
You can use different browsers for different applications. For example, use one for casual browsing and another just for banking. Add tools that block Web trackers, as discussed in the Aug. 8 Top Story, “Add-ons that help browsers block Web trackers.”
For online banking, you might also consider installing EMET (June 6 Windows Secrets On Security story) and Trusteer (March 7 On Security story). I have additional tips in a white paper on small business banking protection. If you have a spare PC, you could even dedicate it just to online banking — no random Google searches, Facebook, or Twitter on that machine.
Bottom line: What makes the best browser is you and your browsing actions: you keep your browsers up to date, you don’t visit questionable sites such as BitTorrents that might download malicious codecs, and — above all else — you keep a strong dose of paranoia, knowing that “free” stuff can actually come at a high cost.