Currently Mozilla - Best Switch: SeaMonkey or Firefox?

Mozilla, Monkey, or Firefox least vulnerable to attack?

[bize0ne]

I have used Mozilla since it's first releases up to now, with v.1.7.11 installed, running also Multizilla. All these features I'd like to keep, not counting email.

Is it time to abandon Mozilla and go with Monkey?
(I generate no e-mail from my local computer, so the email "feature" of Mozilla/Monkey is not an issue).

Or, is Firefox the way to go?
(Yes, I run through Outpost Firewall, and Avast. ;)

My concern is maintaining the quality, and regular features of Mozilla, but if I do a new instll, between Monkey or FF, which is most secure and fault free overall, from the experiance of this Forum's users?

Thanks for your resonses.
Bize0ne

[ogletree]

I use FF for just about everything and I am very happy with it. Right now I have 1.5.0.3 and it seems very stable. In the past there have been a few versions that had problems but overall I love it. I only use IE when I have to like adcenter or whenever I log into any google service. I have ff set up to reject any cookies from google and use it for normal surfing.

[Robin_reala]

Most security fixes are within Necko (as I understand it) so they'll get into both Seamonkey and Firefox. Certainly Firefox is MoCo's active project now though. Why not try Firefox to see if it does everything you want? Most functionality can be added using extensions. If you find that you still prefer the classic interface then grab a download of Seamonkey instead.

[encyclo]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld bize0ne!

SeaMonkey is the natural next step if you like the Mozilla suite - it is the equivalent of Mozilla 1.8 would have been, it has all the security and back-end updates from the Firefox branch, and it is as stable as Mozilla 1.7. I highly recommend it rather than staying with Mozilla 1.7.

But as Firefox and SeaMonkey have different profile locations, why not download and try both? You might prefer the extra features offered by the numerous Firefox extensions.

On the security side, as both browsers share the same codebase they are affected by many of the same vulnerabilities. Both Firefox and SeaMonkey receive regular updates.

[bize0ne]

Thanks, ogletree, Robin_reala, and encyclo for the encouragement and feedback!

I was unaware that both SeaMonkey and FF could be downloaded and not inter-react.
I realize that IE and Mozilla use seperate folders, DLL's etc, but I had (wrongly) invisioned
that SeaMonkey and FF would conflict.
They won't. Hmm! (I want to say "COOL!"..but that would date me ;))

O.K. , this is a slam dunk. I'll certainly install BOTH SeaMonkey and FF and play with them together and
determin my wife and my preferences.

I will save off my "long" Bookmark list and Profile (I asume SeaMonkey and FF will import with no problems)
and then install the two new bowsers. I feel the excitement building!

Please, Ogletree, you made a curious comment that I would appreciate a follow-up.
You mentioned, "I have ff set up to reject any cookies from google".
Would you please elaborate on why you made this decision? How would that benifit me or others?

Thanks again.
Bize0ne

[ogletree]

I use a lot of Google services and most of them keep you logged in all the time. I just did not want to be logged in while I do my searches on Google or have google monitor everything I do with the toolbar, which is also installed on IE. If you have a cookie from Google on your computer they can use that to determine your searches because they know who you are. I realize this is a bit paranoid and probably does not matter but it is easy to do.

[treeline]

Long live paranoia.

I use the Firefox browser and love it. Especially all the extensions like adblock and web developer. Only use others now for testing, and then grudgingly.

[jdMorgan]

An important point here is that Mozilla/1.7.13 and SeaMonkey/1.0.1 are both 'all-one-packages' containing a browser, an e-mail client, chat client, newsreader, spellchecker, WYSIWYG HTML editor, and other features, while Firefox is a browser only (and that was the point of the Phoenix/Firebird/FireFox project -- a stripped-down, simplified, faster, more-reliable browser-only program).

So comparing Mozilla Suite or SeaMonkey to Firefox is comparing apples plus oranges to just apples.

If you only need the browser, and not the e-mail client and other features, then Firefox might be the way to go. Based only of a few years of use, Firefox seems to roll out security and Gecko updates first, then Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey follow a few days later.

Note also that Firefox can update itself automatically, and does so by default unless you choose otherwise. It downloads small "patch" files and installs them, rather than requiring you to download the whole program package and re-install each time there's an update, as Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey currently do (That could change, at least for SeaMonkey).

Downloading them all and testing them is a great approach, unless you're on dial-up. :( Cost is certainly not an issue. :)

Jim

[bize0ne]

ogletree, yes, I understand where your coming from on the cookies. I do not need as yet the various Google services so thats not an issue for me, but I still purge on power-down after a day of roaming.

And "paranoia"? Cookies? How bad can it get? Lets just say I never memorize my Social Security number, can't be to carefull! (I've never felt that "Socially secure" anyway ;) and since I don't know it , its hard for I.D. thief s to pry it out of me...let alone grab my cookies.

JdMorgan, I use Mozilla Composer w/spell checker and don't want to loose that feature. SeaMonkey has it I gather, so am leaning that way, but will still load both Browsers. Thanks for makeing me recall the value of various browsers for site testing.
And no, speed is not an issue.
For years I was on Dial-up (no hi-speed access in Rural Cow Town here for years) Finally got cable access, never looked back.

Thanks all for your input!
bize0ne

[jdMorgan]

...And for a stand-alone version of "Composer" for use alongside Firefox, see Nvu.

Order #13 Sweet-Sour Pork, or a la carte as you like. :)

Jim

[bize0ne]

Yes, jdMorgan, I can see Nvu HTML-Editor as a nice
compliment to FF. A good call. Thanks!
bize0ne