TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: READY FOR FIREFOX? / LOST MYSPACE PASSWORD

Maybe a better question to ask would be "Is FireFox ready for me?" About a year ago, I wrote about my reasons for NOT switching to Firefox, and generated a bit of a firestorm. Today's TOURBUS will revisit the Firefox vs. IE debate, and I'm looking for YOUR input! I'll also reveal a little-known trick to retrieve a lost Myspace password. Read on!

Ready For FireFox?

Some of the problems I whined about last year still remain, but I'm happy that Firefox now allows me to combine toolbars and maximize screen real estate. But as I predicted, the rising popularity of Firefox did shake loose plenty of security issues. The Mozilla Security Advisories page at http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce lists several DOZEN flaws of High or Critical severity discovered since last September.

Even so, I decided to give Firefox another chance, and began using it on a regular basis to see if I could make the switch from Internet Explorer. I do like the tabbed browsing feature, and the ability to easily clear the browser history, cache, cookies, etc.

But the new Internet Explorer version 7 has those features too, and a bunch of new privacy and security tools. So what's a user to do? I'd like to hear why YOU prefer Firefox, especially if you've tried the new IE7. Post your comments here:

http://askbobrankin.com/is_firefox_for_everyone.html

...and maybe you can convince me to make the switch!

FireFox Extensions and Security

One thing I *do* like about Firefox is the open source nature, and the fact that it was designed to allow third-party add-ons. But one reader wrote and asked about security issues with Firefox extensions:

> "I switched to FireFox because I like some of the unique features
> it offers. I've heard people talk about Firefox extensions that
> sound really cool, but I'm not sure if they are safe to use,
> given all the concerns about spyware now.

It's wise to be concerned about browser add-ons and the possibility they might contain spyware or other nasties. There have been cases of spyware and viruses masquerading as Firefox extensions, and any time you place new software on your computer, there is a risk.

But there is a place to look for Firefox extensions that have passed the test of public scrutiny and can be regarded as safe to use. Read on for a list of recommended Firefox extensions, and the pros & cons of tricking out your browser:

http://askbobrankin.com/firefox_extensions.html

Forgot Your Myspace Password?

Lately I've been getting a lot of "Help, I forgot the password for Myspace!" emails, so it must be a common problem. If you have lost or forgotten the password to your Myspace account, you can send a password retrieval request to Myspace. Right below the Login prompt on Myspace, you'll find a "Forgot your password?" link. Click it, then enter the email address that you used to open the account, and Myspace will send your password to that address.

But what if you forgot the email address too? Or perhaps it was a "throw-away" email account that you can no longer access. Don't despair... if you don't have the Myspace password OR access to the email address associated with the account, there IS a little-known way to get back that erstwhile password. Here's the secret...

http://askbobrankin.com/forgot_myspace_password.html

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin