h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

pheloxi is right (post #86). We Mac users are just that

But I don't enjoy learning a new browser. The Safari browser that came in my new I-Mac doesn't store it's history for long enough to suit me, and doesn't seem to have a mechanism to clean out old cookies. I like Netscape 7 in my old IMac a lot better.

It's not just rumours, Rich, you could verify the points when following the links provided.

hi hstwrd, if you click the safari-menu you should find exactly what you need to clean out old cookies, select private browser, empty cache and what have you

I have followed all the links, Bel, and I've read all the security blogs, checked out the proof of concept described at http://aviv.raffon.net/ and tried it myself, and downloaded a few types of files with all three browsers to see how they handle them. As far as I can see, only Whisky and I have done this, and we see it for what it is - a minor security issue.

It is quite clear that Chrome does not - emphatically not - download and run files without you telling it to. That is a rumour. It has no basis in fact, and has been spread by a lot of well-meaning people, not just here, but on the wider Web.

This is how it is.

In IE and Firefox, there are two clicks involved; one to download and one to execute a file. In Chrome, one button does both. This gives us the first problem; that a naive user could potentially download a file and run it by mistake. For me, a one-click button would be a time-saver, because I tend to run any files I've downloaded as soon as they arrive anyway, but for someone who is unfamiliar with how the Internet works it could be a problem. Why they would be using IE instead of Chrome, I have no idea anyway, but it's a valid point.

When you try to open the executable files, in all three browsers, Windows opens a box telling you it's arrived from the Internet and it could therefore be a security issue. The user tells Windows whether or not to run it. If you haven't asked for the file, you don't run it; if you're certain it's legit, you don't. It's your choice.

The exception to this is the JAR file. Windows Explorer doesn't tell you that the JAR file has been downloaded from the Internet, because the program that runs it (Java RunTime Environment) doesn't check where the file has come from before it starts the running process. It just runs it. This isn't a Chrome issue, though - it's the same with IE and Firefox - and is something for Microsoft and Sun to sort out between themselves.

In a nutshell, the problem is that a user could easily download a file with one click in Chrome without realising what he or she is doing, and if that file happened to be a JAR it could contain a virus that slips under the radar. If it's any other type of file, or if the user has any common sense, it's not a problem.

That's not the same as saying that Chrome downloads and runs programs without permission.

Once again, am glad to have Mac.

Thanks, Pierce.
Since you said it was there, I made another attempt. Found it under "Preferences" and "Security". Security? Very odd. Now if I need to again, I'll look up this post. Faster than remembering where it is.

Security makes perfect sense to me in that context. Cookies enable the website you've been to to recognise your computer/Mac, whatever.
You need to allow h2g2 to place cookies on your PC to run the site.
However, some cookies (from my little understanding of things) enable the website to sort of spy your PC, which is why they shouldn't be allowed. I can't express it any better, but I'm sure somebody else can.
I always clear the cache on this PC before shutting down.

hi all
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for my pc needs, i have to use the cybershop, i have the admin acsess
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i was going to download the chrome, and see what its like, but after reading the back messages, i,ll stay with the explorer and firefox ones.
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when i leave the pc at the cyber, i always, clear, cookies, temps, history, and discareded things i watched or uploaded, from the rubbish.
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and leave the system the way i found it, in most cases. some just use and go, and never clear the pc
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jim

I would have thought the history is disabled on a public PC.

hi bel
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its a pc shop, with standard use, with the option of just user or admin, if you know the boss.
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he as disabled the downloding to a disc, but the memeory part through usb is still on for music and so on.
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the user part is limited.
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we have the full msn with videocall, mike, phones, and the asians and and others use skype.
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jim x

Thanks, jim. It's a bit too technical for me, but then I don't need to know.

hi bel
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thats what lil says to me lol.
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my hotmail for msn is on my space,
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if you ever want send an invite sometime,i,ll say hi, when im on the pc, hopefully sound and cam lol jimx

Thanks, jim.

in the early messages ive seen where the security of the chrome and others comes up.
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the cyber where i go, as the acrnis and also the lastest, free avg 8, with full protection for virus, adaware, emails and so on.
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the adaware can be set to not allow a site, without you say its ok, jim

After waiting too long for pages to load & threats from family to disinherit me (now that does worry me - er, not!) I changed to Firefox from IE7.
Guess what? Everyone's changed their will in my favour.

Really, it is so much faster.

Must differ then from PC to PC. On my PC, IE7 is faster than Firefox.

The latest Firefox (Firefox 3) is much faster.

Jab

Oh, it is Firefox 3.0.1 on this PC. It takes a whole 30 seconds just to open it.

hi all
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i use the nomal explorer at the cyber,
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the firefox tends to mess me up, with the close tabs, i get it wrong and lose the pages i want to see again lol.
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bel
this is something you might find usefull to you.
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google for vlc, its an alernative to windowmedia.
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acsess the window option, then look for the second france download, they are mirrors, and they will allow you to change the english to another language, before you download. its on a par to the alernative realplayer.
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if you download and dont like or want, you only have to add/remove to discard. ive watched the old site films, with having to look for the codec jim

opps, that should be, without looking for codec.

mate just rang and tryed it, and said he hated it, sticking to firefox lol jim