The Best Browser For Blocking Malware

Part of internet security is which internet browser you choose to use.  Each have very different methods of detecting and blocking malware.  Which browser you choose sometimes can dictate how effective your antivirus software will be, or how effective your computer will be at detecting threats.  Using a browser that’s guaranteed to block as much malware as possible is obviously a good decision, as ease of use is second to safety when it comes to your personal information.

According to NSS Labs, who ran malware tests the most common browsers, Internet Explorer 8 is actually the safest internet browser.  IE8 had an 80% effectiveness rate at blocking most malware threats, compared to Firefox’s 27% and Safari’s 21%.  As for Google Chrome…well that browser isn’t very safe at all ending up all the way down at 7%.  This means, contrary to the widely practiced belief that Microsoft products are havens for malware and spyware, their internet browser is actually the safest.

Internet Explorer 8 also blocked the highest amount of phishing tests, leading the pack with 83%, although Firefox followed as a close second with 81%.  But that means both are pretty well at blocking phishing, although malware barricades are more important as phishing usually gives you a warning, whereas malware can be installed on your PC without your knowledge.

But despite this, it’s important to realize even with IE 8 and such a great malware resistance rate, you should still be careful.  You still need to control your browsing and make sure to only visit websites that you trust.  Even if your browser blocks most of the malware that the internet can throw at you, there’s still a percentage that leaks through.  That percentage leaves well more than enough space for your computer to be absolutely safe.  Just as important is having properly updated antivirus software.  Just because your browser can block most of the threats, doesn’t mean  you shouldn’t still scan you computer.