How to Switch to Firefox and Why You should

First things first, what is Firefox? Well, it's a browser. Ok but what's that? A browser is a computer program used to view web pages, to browse through the world wide web. In fact you are reading this article with a browser at the moment. Browsers are very useful. For a start, they can remember what pages you have looked at, you can even store your favourite pages as Bookmarks. Browsers can do much more depending on which one you have.

Firefox is a free browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The Mozilla Foundation develops open source software. Another excellent application is Thunderbird, an email program.

More than likely you are using Internet Explorer to view this webpage. This browser is part of Microsoft Windows operating system. To check which browser you are using:

  • Click on the Help in your browsers menu bar. (It's the last option on the right hand side, after File, Edit?)
  • Click on the last option in the menu that appears.

    • If it says Microsoft Internet Explorer® then you have the browser that between 80% and 90% (depending on who you talk to) use.

    So why change?

    Security: Most experts agree that you are less likely to be the subject of a malicious attack by "hackers" if you use Firefox than if you use Internet Explorer.

    Firefox Extensions: There is a whole array of quick and easy to install extensions available for Firefox. Extensions add functionality to your browser. They are a bit like the added extras that you get with your car (except they're free!). Everything from Ad blockers to your local weather forecast.

    Tabbed browsing: Instead of opening your browser more than once to view more than one page at a time, which can slow down your computer, tabbed browsing allows you to open many web pages, in tabs, in only one browser.

    So how do you get the Firefox browser?

  • Click on this link to go to the Firefox download page.

  • In the top right corner of the page is a green area with a link to the free download.

  • When the dialog box appears, click save.

  • Select a location to download the file to.

  • The file should start downloading to the location you selected.

  • When the file has finished downloading, (it should be called something like Firefox Setup 1.0.5.exe) double click on it to open it.

  • If you have Windows XP service pack 2 is installed, a dialog box may appear. Select execute.

  • After Firefox has extracted, click next.

  • Click on the radio button beside 'I accept the terms of the License Agreement' and then click on the next button.

  • The standard installation is fine so just click on the next button.

  • This screen just confirms the location that Firefox is to installed, so just click on the next button again.

  • Click Finish to complete the installation and launch Firefox.

    • Congratulations! You have now installed Firefox. When Firefox starts the first time it will ask if you want to set Firefox as your default browser. Select yes.

    One last thing. Under no circumstances remove Internet Explorer from your system. Firefox is a better browser but Internet Explorer is used by your computer for other things than browsing the web.

    Aonghus Flynn is an Irish web developer specialising in Flash development. Aonghus has over 7 years experience in the IT industry as a developer and a trainer. You can reach him at http://www.aonghusflynn.com

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    D2X Digital SLRCoolpix 8800 Actually Refers to Two Nikon Cameras

    Addressing a D2X Digital SLRCoolpix 8800 search, this article provides... Read More

    Why Get a Microsoft MCSE Certification?

    In the years of the dot com boom and bust,... Read More

    10 Easy Steps to Speed Up Your Computer - Without Upgrading

    1. Empty the Temp directory regularly. To do this, make... Read More

    Temporary Fixes to Spyware, Ad-ware, and Virus Infections

    So you've got some spyware, ad-ware, or viruses on your... Read More

    4 Easy Ways to Speed Up A Sluggish PC

    Computers are supposed to speed up our productivity?to help us... Read More

    Wordpress Plugins

    Maybe you always wanted a feature that hasn't been available... Read More

    Nephrology and Dialysis For a PDA

    Saving Lives With A Pocket PCFree medical downloads can be... Read More

    A Tale of Two Regeds

    Tech support tells me to type 'regedt32' as opposed to... Read More

    Customize Your Portable Player with an MP3 Player Accessory

    Everywhere you look today people are listening to personal audio... Read More

    Help, I Need a New HDTV! (Part 2 of 5)

    Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More

    Choosing a Portable MP3 Player: Part 1

    MP3 players are everywhere! It seems that the number of... Read More

    USB Drives - What to Look For in a USB Device

    Those small USB drives have so many names, pocket drives,... Read More

    Digital Cameras: Hot Gear with the Coolest Features!

    Cameras: still known for taking pictures but assumed as digital... Read More

    How Does My PC Get Hot

    There are many sources of heat that can raise the... Read More

    The Help Desk

    When you think of a help desk, what do you... Read More

    PC Owners - The Largest Criminal Gang Ever?

    The year is 1981. IBM has just released the Personal... Read More

    iPod users get the picture

    iPod users start to get the picture and it's turning... Read More

    Password Nightmares

    Good Morning Mr. Sampson. Please type in you Personal Identification... Read More

    Why There Are Color Differences in Printing from Your PC

    This article describes the basic properties of color, what the... Read More

    If You are the Only User on Your Windows XP Computer, Do You Think One User Account Is Enough?

    I am going to assume that you are running windows... Read More

    Basic Computer Thermodynamics

    That desk in front of you and everything else around... Read More

    Learn the Lost Art of Touch Typing

    Computers have replaced typewriters, but two-finger, hunt-and-peck typing can never... Read More

    15 Good Programming Habits

    1. Before sitting down for coding, you must have formal... Read More

    Classification of Computers

    Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights, due... Read More

    Occupational Therapy and PDAs

    Occupational Therapy Made EasierMedical downloads for the pda have improved... Read More

    Be Prepared in the Event Computer Disaster Strikes

    ComputersBusinesses and individuals alike have all grown to rely on... Read More

    How Do MP3 Players Work? Digital Audio Technology Revolutionizes Music Enjoyment

    Millions have enjoyed recorded music since 1877 when Thomas Edison... Read More

    Buying a Personal Computer (PC)

    For many people the computer industry is a seeming unsolvable... Read More

    Use Your Computer For Your Entertainment Needs

    By using your computer today you can find a lot... Read More

    Can Movie Theatres Compete with Home HD TV in the Future?

    The battle is heating up for market share, home movie... Read More

    Cisco Certification: The Most Important Cisco Study Youll Ever Do

    All of us are familiar with the pyramids of Egypt.... Read More

    The Benefits of the New Firefox Browser

    You probably heard of the new Firefox browser version 1.0... Read More

    Quick System Restore with ASR Backups

    ASR (Automated System Recovery) is a feature available on the... Read More