Browser basics

Browsers are hands down the most commonly used computer application and the good thing is there is plenty of choice.

While Netscape Navigator was the first browser many of us got our heads around in the early 90s, it quickly felt the full brunt of Microsoft's power, losing the so called “Browser Wars” to Internet Explorer. Microsoft's winning strategy was to bundle the IE browser with Windows and it's a move that led to the browser ruling the roost.

A look at a history of browser usage, prepared by Reviversoft, highlights that the dominance of IE has since waned with the entry of open source browsers like Google's Chrome and Mozilla. Each has its own  individual peculiarities but both are giving Microsoft a run for its money  

The bottom line on browsers is that there is no clear winner, so the best strategy is to stick with the one that does the job, make sure that the security protocols are checked and as Lisa Vass emphatically points out in her piece this morning, don't run outdated versions.