PayPal warns: Steer clear of Apple's Safari browser

[encyclo]

PayPal warns: Steer clear of Apple's Safari browser [news.yahoo.com]

Safari doesn't make PayPal's list of recommended browsers because it doesn't have two important anti-phishing security features, according to Michael Barrett, PayPal's chief information security officer.

"Apple, unfortunately, is lagging behind what they need to do, to protect their customers," Barrett said in an interview. "Our recommendation at this point, to our customers, is use Internet Explorer 7 or 8 when it comes out, or Firefox 2 or Firefox 3, or indeed Opera."

Opera, IE, and Firefox are "safer, precisely because we think they are safer for the average consumer," he added. "I'd love to say that Safari was a safer browser, but at this point it isn't."

[BillyS]

Oh my, someone is actually recommending IE over and Apple product. But Apple never has this kind of problem!?! Err - or does it?

[vincevincevince]

Safari has rarely been toted as a good browser; just as a workable solution for Apple's platforms. This means that this is far from a surprise. With the limited user market share that Apple machines have, it's unrealistic to expect Safari to keep up with Firefox or even IE.

[techrealm]

And considering it is the only browser deployed on those silly iPhones <rant deleted for time and space>

From the slam, Apple must have wanted money from Paypal transactions for them to have access to the browser api.

Good thing Opera and Firefox work on Apple's too... Hmm.

[timster]

I'm really not sure I trust PayPal's impartiality here. There's no evidence Extended Validation has any positive effect in preventing phishing attacks.

It's more clear that the $500 price tag to get an Extended Validation will make Paypal a more attractive option for small businesses doing e-commerce.

Disclaimer: Long time Firefox user. And I will factor in the green bar myself when I'm evaluating websites.

Owner edit: Fixed typo

[ChoiceStalker]

this doesnt surprise me... on my mac i use Safari, Firefox and Camino...

And when they say firefox does it matter which OS its used on? also what about Camino?

[Hester]

Safari is highly rated by those who use it as their main browser (not me btw). Version 3.1 just out also has some cool additions not available elsewhere. Anyway, my main point is:

Safari is also available for Windows. (Is IE6, 7 or 8 available for Mac? Er, no.) So in theory the userbase could be large.

[edited by: Hester at 3:59 pm (utc) on Mar. 19, 2008]