Why Update?
The Problem
Outdated browsers:
- may have serious security flaws that allow malicious websites to read
your files, damage your files, steal your passwords, infect your computer with viruses ... and much more.
- may have bugs and limitations that may create problems when you use websites.
- may make websites harder to use.
- may not work correctly in the year 2000 and beyond.
Note, however, that updating to the lastest version of a browser may not be wise if it has recently been released, as it may have more than the
ordinary number of bugs: Be not the first by whom the new are tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside.
You should check for updates regularly.
Browser makers often issue updates to fix bugs or security flaws, but may not tell you, and may
not even update the version number. If you check the Browser News regularly, you can scan the News
to see if there has been an update in your browser. The Browser News is published once a week,
every Saturday.
Note: because Microsoft ended all support of Windows 98, 98SE, and ME in Jul 2006, those who use any of these
are at special risk, and will become more at risk as more and more uncorrected security problems are discovered in these versions of Windows.
Those who use Internet Explorer with Windows 98, 98SE, and ME should seriously consider switching to a browser for which updates are still available.
Major Browsers
The most recent, stable English versions of the major browsers are:
- AOL: AOL 9 SE // Windows.
- Apple:
- Safari 1.0.3 // OS X 10.2 (Jaguar);
- Safari 1.3.2 // OS X 10.3 (Panther);
- Safari 2.0.3 // OS X 10.4 (Tiger).
- Safari 3.1.1 // OS X 10.4 (Tiger), OS X 10.5 (Leopard), and Windows XP/Vista.
Note : Apple often updates Safari without changing the version number, so you should check the Browser News
regularly to make sure you have the latest updates.
- Microsoft:
- 7.0 // Windows XP SP2 and Vista;
- 6.0SP2 // Windows XP SP2.
- 6.0SP1 // other versions of Windows.
Note : Microsoft often updates Internet Explorer for Windows without changing the version
number, so you should use Windows Update
regularly to make sure you have the latest updates.
- Mozilla:
- Mozilla Camino 1.6 (OS X);
- Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.14;
- SeaMonkey 1.1.9 (replaces Mozilla Suite).
- Opera:
Note: some browsers are updated without their version numbers being changed.
Update Options
Now, if you decide to update, you have three choices:
- Update to the same generation of browser: e.g., from Firefox 1.5 to 1.5.0.12.
The update should be safer and more reliable.
- Update to a newer generation of browser: e.g., from Firefox 1.5 to 2.0.
The update should be safer and more reliable; also, pages on websites will
look better, be easier to use, and will let you do things you can’t do now. However, there
are two good reasons for not updating to a new generation: (a) newer browsers
often need more capable computers, so if you have a very old computer, it may not be
fast enough, have enough memory, or have enough disk space to run a new generation of browser;
(b) if the new generation of browser is very new, it may have bugs which older generations do not
have, so it is usually less risky to update to a new generation after it has been available
for 6-9 months, by which time it will have been stabilized.
- Update to another browser: e.g., from Internet Explorer to Firefox.
Note that the new browser will work differently, and it may take a few hours to get used to the differences.
When you decide to update, you can find out where to get the update from the Find Browsers page.