Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, and Apple Safari compared Features Chrome Firefox IE Opera Safari Version tested 1.0.154.36 3.12 beta 2 8 beta 2 9.63 3.2.1 (525.27.1) Pros Fast and clean; best browser security model; strong Web site isolation Battle tested by attackers; best cipher support; excellent add-on support; security zones Best enterprise deployment and control; top security granularity; security zones; excellent add-on manager Impressive security granularity; good anti-DoS protection; many unique features; strict EV enforcement Good pop-up blocking; good anti-phishing filter; good local password protection Cons Lack of security granularity; cannot disable JavaScript; poor password protection; previous exploits simple to accomplish Lack of per site JavaScript blocking without add-on; doesn’t highlight true domain name Most attacked browser; high number of known vulnerabilities; vulnerable to exploitation of third-party ActiveX controls DEP and ASLR not enabled; ECC ciphers not supported; not thoroughly tested by attackers Lack of security granularity; poor cipher support; no security zones; absence of enterprise feaures TLS available and offered first Y Y Y Y Y SSL 3.0 Y Y Y Y Y SSL 2.0 Y Y Y Y Y SSL 1.0 enabled by default N N N N N AES Y Y Y Y N ECC Y Y Y N N InfoCard supported by default N N Y N N Extended Validation certificates Y Y Y Y Y Enforce FIPS cipher use N Y Y N N Server TLS/SSL certificate revocation information checked by default Y Y Y Y N OCSP support enabled N Y Y Y Y Multiple security zones/domains N Y Y N N Security controls by Web site exceptions N Y Y Y Y Control security and functionality on a per site basis N N Y Y N Automatically store and recall passwords Y Y Y Y Y Stong local password protection N Y Y Y Y Java support Y Y Y Y Y MIME content type sniffing Y Y, limited Y Y Y DEP enabled by default Y Y Y N N Vista ASLR enabled by default Y Y Y N Y Vista Integrity level Low/Med. Medium Low/Med. Medium Medium Built-in ActiveX support N N Y N N Built-in script support Y Y Y Y Y Ability to globally disable JavaScript N Y Y Y Y Ability to disable JavaScript on a per site or security zone basis N N Y N N Plug-in support Y Y Y Y Y Plug-in management N Y Y N N Control access data across domains Y Y Y Y Y Control displaying content across mixed zones by default Y Y Y Y Y Control browser access to clipboard Y Y Y Y Y Automated updates Y Y Y Y Y Moniker handling to prevent automatic application launching Y Y Y Y N Cross-site script filtering Y Y Y Y Y Supports Windows authentication Y, digest Y, digest Y, all Y Y Block reported malicious sites N Y Y Y N Highlights true domain name Y N Y N N Anti-phishing filter Y Y Y Y Y Privacy features Y Y Y Y Y Pop-up blocking Y Y Y Y Y Private session browsing Y Y Y N Y One click history erase Y Y Y Y Y One click default settings reset Y N Y N N Ad blocking (outside of pop-ups) N N N Y N Parental controls N N Y N N Technology Industry