Internet Explorer: The LEAST Secure Browser?

It seems that everyone wants to do a kneejerk reaction to put down what they don't understand. I use IE at work and home with no problems (yes my AV software is up to date). I hate the UI in Chrome where they don't give any toolbars.

I would think that one would have to look at the browser usage (in numbers between IE, Google and Firefox) to so which is the most used and how many problems have been reported on each to get a valid picture.

In another light, we could eliminate all car accidents if we just didn't drive cars anymore and walked or used public transportation.

I am giving Opera a spin for the first time in awhile and I like it, except I cannot find the Find function to look for a word in the page or document I am reading.
Anyway, is this a safe alternative?
Thank you.

Blah, blah, blah. It seems that no matter what one uses, someone has a bone to pick with it. I've used IE for years in its many forms and iterations. I've tried the others. All of my favorites and quickie buttons are in IE. I'm tired of trying to use a "better" browser. They're all good. So, I'm staying with the "devil" I know. Thanks, again, for an informative and unbiased article.

Great information, as always----i do enjoy reading your articles--down to earth explaining & timely.

Thank you for this article to alert all of your readers about IE security issues. I am assuming that the you and Techworld are primarily addressing IE11 and not the older versions of IE (IE9/IE10). There is a slew of InternetExplorer users who are having serious issues in attempting to upgrade to IE11 (from IE9/IE10). I have spent the past 8 months in attempting to shoehorn IE11 in a Toshiba laptop w/Win7x64, with no success. I have tried almost everything; including going to Microsoft forums seeking help and attempting EVERY possible recommendation for this upgrade that has been suggested (even from MS MVPs), but the laptop is still refusing to upgrade to IE11 and fails the install. I have all but given up and recommending to other forum posters to move to Chrome/Firefox, instead of wasting time with attempts at patches and many other techniques that are for advanced users.
For my computer usage, I have always been a FireFox fan, from the days when FireFox was still on version0.9.
The reference testing you are discussing appear to be the usage of all these 3 Internet Browsers in the non-modified and non-customized configuration of each one; in the “as installed” or out-of-the-box state.
It should be mentioned that two of the most important features of FireFox are its customizable interface and its Add-Ons that allow FireFox to become even more formidable with respect to enhanced security and reduced potential for vulnerabilities. An advanced FireFox (FF) user can actually prevent it from Java exploits, disable FF to run java-scripts (using the add-on NoScript), preventing pop-up ads (via adBlock and ABP), installing the latest add-on by EFF (using Privacy Badger), in addition to the FF built-in Privacy/Security features that block 3rd party cookies and redirects, also prevents Tracking, and additional “Security Modules and Devices”, etc.. There are even enhancements (in the form of Add-Ons) to the FF built-in MasterPassword regiment, which further protects user sensitive log-in credentials, in multi-user FF environments. Apologies for the length of my post.

Thank you very much for your report. I am a senior computer professional and have used computers since 1964, so I've been there through the Personal Computer era, have used many operating systems, including all versions of Windows since 3.01. Thus I have used most browers from the early Netscape and the early Internet Explorers to present versions (now at IE 11.0.9600.17207), Chrome (now at version 36.0.1985.125m. While I have used many versions of Firefox, I have given up on it for reasons I will not go into at the present time. My favorite browser has been for many years IE and I use Chrome rarely, but do keep it up to date.

It has been my feeling for many years that the danger IE presents has always been overstated, and the safety given by Chrome and Firefox has also always been highly overstated.

In any event, even though I have done some "dangerous" browsing in the past, I have never had a SERIOUS infection, and have always been able to quickly solve any problem my "surfing" has caused using free tools found online such as Malwarebytes Antimalware and SUPERAntispyware.

I like IE and shall continue to use it as long as the best competitors are no better than Firefox and Chrome.

Thanks for that, Bob. As usual a very thoughtful, well-researched and well-written, interesting and enlightening article.

In using IE I discovered that my virus program (BitDefender)gave ample warning when I tried to visit a no-no site. Keeping virus programs updated is a great way to keep IE safe to use.

If I would have read any of those 'scary' articles about Internet Explorer, I would not have been alarmed. However, from your article (I'll check the sources later. ), it appears IE is clearly more of a risk when one accounts for overall #'s combined with severity. Sorry, I can't agree with your conclusion. I've lately found IE to seem to flow more quickly & personally I don't experience any issues with it's functioning if I set the security & privacy settings low enough but after reading the numbers here, part of smart browsing it appears would be not using IE.

I am impressed that lately IE has been using far less memory & processing so I may use it anyway for quick browsing but would possibly recommend to n00bs they should use an alternate browser until better numbers are obtained by IE. Thank you for the heads up.

I believe more in using Linux with very different browsers anyway but felt it my duty to point out there appears to be a significant difference when IE's overall # this year is higher and then within that # the average found was 9.8 with 93% in the most servere range. With all due respect, that contrasted with the results of the 2 mentioned competitors has to be statistically significant & therefore worthy of negative distinction.

I admire your articles and knowledge but this article makes me have to wonder if you are possibly being funded by Microsoft and a little partial in your conclusion.

With the paucity of dissention so far I fear my response will just be deleted but entering it anyway.

Thank you for your time and patience.

Enjoyed the article. I've been a lifelong user of IE until XP support forced me to FireFox When my new computer arrives this week, I'll go back to IE 11 as my primary browser.

Has anyone done a comparative as to how intrusive Chrome, FireFox, and IE are relative to their users and host systems? Nothing technical to back it up, but I've heard "gossip" about the collection of personal info, etc. by at least one of the leading 3 browsers.

I had a problem installing IE11 because I was unable to install Service Pack 1. After I did it was a cinch. However MSFT sent me a link that had to be unpacked and I can't locate it right now. It took quite a while to unpack and run. Then it installed.

Nice article. I use all three mentioned browsers and really prefer ie in many cases; but, anywho, just a note about Firefox 32, I have it now.

Ive found the Denver librarians sometimes dont know what they are talking about although their learning curve has gone up.....

Charles Feinstein--
Right click on any toolbar in Opera, and choose "Appearance." You can then choose toolbars, icons and commands that you want, and drag them to the toolbars.

IE should definitely NOT be used for those of us still on XP. The newer versions won't run on XP. But I've always used Firefox anyway.

i have been using IE from day one. Tried Chrome and FF - didn't like 'em! I also use Opera and I love the way the history keeps track of EVERY page you've visited. This is extremely valuable when you've looked at dozens of pages and want to find that exact page again. You don't have to bookmark them individually - very handy! ymmv

All browsers have its own vulnerability. IE shows to the public much more, because it is the preferred target of visus writers. When the virus criminality will acknowlegde about alternatives as Chrome and Firefox, I am sure IE will have nothing to envy to them about security issues. Then, you all have to remember that the only issues taken in statistics are the ones 'discovered'. Be sure any existing problem on Chrome or Firefox will never be disclosed by who wants take advantage of them.

From the article: "Firefox and Chrome have had ZERO exploits since 2010. For IE, there were only 3 in the past year."

Comparing a 3 1/2 year span with a 1 year span. ("since 2010" seems to imply starting in 2011)

How many IE exploits since 2010?

I am very much satisfied with IE as my browser. Maybe it is my geographical location, but if I use Firefox or Chrome, I pick up too many infections. I have taken them off my machine. I use AVG and SPYBOT for my protection and scan once a week with Malwarebytes.I think I will "keep on keeping on."

I use IE 11 for work and am not any more concerned about security with IE then Firefox or Chrome. In fact probably the most secure would be the least used browser which is Opera. Like operating systems, the target will always be the one with the most users. Since Chrome is gaining users I suspect we will see more attacks focused on Chrome. The argument of any browser updating and fixing holes faster then another is kind of a mute point. Unless you can update in hours and not days, you are going to risk a user base. In most cases this is not a problem as not everyone is so exposed as to be such a target anyway. Personally, stop reading into hysteria over claims of any browser being more at risk then another. That mostly comes from haters of one browser or another. Fanboy's always cloud comparisons like this. Use the browser of choice and forget about which one is the flavor of the day.

I've used IE few times back in 90's. Than I replaced PC for Mac as soon as I could. Safari is my browser of choice since it's release in 2003. The only reason I'm here is because our HR introduced new holiday booking system that works only in IE, and I wanted to check how safe it is.