The emperor’s new browser

I don’t think we can give Pennsylvania State University all the credit, but they deserve at least a pat on the back.

I’m not talking about the storied history of the Nittany Lions, but about the university’s December decision to advise students and faculty to seek alternatives to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer because of persistent security problems. In essence, the university told the emperor he was naked.

That took all the guts of giving an undersized running back, with a spotty offensive line, the ball at fourth-and-goal and, in doing so, Penn State forced IE security issues out into the open. The university’s advisory said that “The threats are real and alternatives exist.”

In fact, the threats are abundant; the “alternatives” referred to can be boiled down to one — Firefox, a free product from Mozilla Foundation, which has seen 10 million downloads after being released in early November.

Firefox is popular for a variety of reasons. Some are just of the “I hate Microsoft” variety, but others are more substantial. For instance, the product, based partially on code once used in — you guessed it — Netscape, is more secure than leaky, creaky Internet Explorer. Of course, eventually some hackers will find and exploit some weak spots in Firefox — but, as the Nittany Lions have said, it’s an alternative. 

Firefox provides some much-needed competition for IE. What is even more obvious is that Microsoft is already aware it has some problems with security in its products — not just Internet Explorer — and is attempting to rehabilitate itself. The software giant’s recent release of the Security Control Center (as ham-fisted as it was); the recent purchase of anti-spyware company Giant Company Software; and last year’s purchase of a Romanian anti-virus company all indicate that Microsoft is all too aware that security is an issue. 

Microsoft’s rehabilitation program includes entering the security market, which most analysts expect to occur sometime in the second half of next year. Already, Microsoft’s moves have had a ripple effect among other security vendors. Symantec, for instance, recently acquired data-storage and backup vendor Veritas to diversify its product line as Microsoft prepares for a security launch.

Microsoft has generally been successful when it has chosen to enter a market, but security could be a different situation than any it faced before. Now, Microsoft will not just be fighting less-well-funded competitors in the free-market battlefield, but also a well-armed, dedicated cadre of hackers who love a new challenge.

Market statistics indicate consumers are reacting to security concerns at a rapid rate as well. According to OneStat.com, a company that analyzes Web statistics, Internet Explorer has already lost market share to Mozilla’s Firefox. To celebrate its success, the Mozilla Foundation took out a two-page advertisement in The New York Times in December to thank contributors to Firefox launch efforts.

Personally, I haven’t yet made the jump to Firefox. On my machines running Windows XP, Internet Explorer seems to run fine. On my Windows 98 system, however, it’s a different story. On that system, Internet Explorer has more holes than a screen door; even with an anti-virus program, anti-spyware software, and a firewall, it is a constant battle just to get to the homepage. Like the Penn State IT department, I’m more than ready to consider alternatives.

Real progress for computer users and IT managers will come when desktop and network security issues are less of a concern than they are at present. Then, perhaps users should take out another ad and thank Firefox for providing Microsoft with some much needed competition — and Penn State for having the guts to stand up and suggest the emperor was less than well-dressed.