Microsoft says Firefox not a threat to IE

By Munir Kotadia
Posted on ZDNet News: Nov 11, 2004 6:54:00 PM

At a security roundtable discussion in Sydney on Thursday, Ben English, Microsoft's security and management product manager, told attendees that IE undergoes "rigorous code reviews" and is no less secure than any other browser.

"Because IE is ubiquitous, you hear a lot more about it, but I don't think that Internet Explorer is any less secure than any other browser out there," English said.

Steve Vamos, Microsoft Australia's managing director, agreed, saying he does not believe IE's market share is under attack following the recent high-profile debut of the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox browser.

Vamos said that although he has heard other people mention the competitive threat posed by Firefox, he doesn't see it as a problem.

"I'm not sure that that is the reality. I have seen comments around that, but there is nothing I can refer to that really supports that," he said. Instead, Vamos said, consumers need to be educated about all the features already offered by Microsoft's browser.

"We probably need to do a bit of work to communicate the features that are in IE," he said.

Vamos, who admitted he has never used Firefox, said there is a lot of hype surrounding the open-source movement and that if Microsoft's customers wanted new features, they would have told the company about it.

"I don't agree that just because a (competing) product has a feature that we don't have, that feature is important," he said. "It is not. It is only important if it is a feature the customer wants. There are plenty of products out there with features we don't have. We have plenty of features that our customers don't use.

"If there are features in our products that are subpar or need to be added, then I have great confidence that we are an organization that responds pretty quickly and effectively to that."

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For web developers WinIE is a disaster

The wave of the future for page development is CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). CSS is supported nearly identically by all browsers, save one. Yes, you guessed it. Developers call it "Internet Exploder."... (Read the rest)

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IE needs to add Tabbed Browsing  Prognosticator | 11/11/04

Opera has more robust than both IE and firefox  rschror | 11/11/04

Huh?  John E Wahd | 11/11/04

Opera isn't free without ads  nucrash | 11/11/04

Well....  hal9000mx | 11/11/04

Cisco reference  GregSalts | 11/11/04

Poor Opera  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

Try this  seosamh_z | 11/11/04

Like a Mercedes with...  libertyaikido | 11/11/04

Firefox Slower?  htotten | 11/11/04

Only thing slower than ie is konqueror.  Spoon Jabber | 11/12/04

IE needs to add Tabbed Browsing - Ditto!  bonedaddy29 | 11/12/04

IE - works for me  CodeBubba | 11/12/04

Me too !  workit@... | 11/12/04

Not bragging  rob weller | 11/12/04

Correct!  workit@... | 11/12/04

IE needs to add Tabbed Browsing  mel@... | 11/12/04

You kidding...  FreeBSD | 11/11/04

You[re] kidding...  CodeBubba | 11/12/04

Who's kidding who?  raven1_z | 11/12/04

Typical Microsoft Garbage  sigmascape | 11/11/04

Check your facts..  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Likewise  rschror | 11/11/04

Facts are facts  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

SP2 even more part of the problem.  sigmascape | 11/11/04

M$ marketing Strategy/ Stacking!  saphil@... | 11/12/04

I did  nucrash | 11/11/04

re: I did  Chipper1963 | 11/12/04

We the people dumb ass!  rschror | 11/11/04

SP2 is a release, not an update  saphil@... | 11/12/04

IE 7 will be available in 2007 (as part of Longhorn).  B.O.F.H. | 11/11/04

Re: IE 7 will be available in 2007  richdave | 11/11/04

Linux at Parity with Windows?  htotten | 11/11/04

Market superiority needed  saphil@... | 11/12/04

Super.  sigmascape | 11/11/04

Well, it is nice...  hal9000mx | 11/11/04

Only for XP  DarthRidiculous | 11/11/04

Fact is  TechDiva_z | 11/12/04

You're a "tech"?  workit@... | 11/12/04

Are we M$ slaves?  Aleks58 | 11/16/04

Typical Microsoft Garbage  CodeBubba | 11/12/04

Typical Microsoft Garbage  jof | 01/28/05

Oh, so Microsoft customers know all possible features they would like????  DonnieBoy | 11/11/04

Donnie, Donnie, Donnie.....  hal9000mx | 11/11/04

You missed the point  Joe Blow_z | 11/11/04

Yes, hopefully, with a critical mass, more will start hearing about Firefox  DonnieBoy | 11/12/04

what kind of market share does FireFox have..  saphil@... | 11/12/04

FireFox has it! Kinda  raven1_z | 11/12/04

Right now, almost NO Microsoft users know about TABS  DonnieBoy | 11/12/04

You have a hard time asking  saphil@... | 11/12/04

Features  CodeBubba | 11/12/04

Let Microsoft keep thinking that way  hiwong | 11/11/04

What does Microsoft have to gain?  mgordon_z | 11/12/04

They are sounding more like IBM every day  RoyBatty | 11/22/04

I find this hard to believe  John E Wahd | 11/11/04

I'm sure they'll...  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Wow...  John E Wahd | 11/11/04

He's right Shade. If you make blanket statements like  Laff | 11/11/04

No where does he use the term no or none.  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Shade is correct, it was not stated that NO customer wants Tabbed Browsing  GregSalts | 11/11/04

Tabs better than taskbar or Alt-Tab switching  zen_dogen | 11/11/04

Alt-tab switching?  TechDiva_z | 11/12/04

Their own usability studies???  sbrown3 | 11/28/04

There was a time when I would have agreed  tic swayback | 11/11/04

Tabbed Browsing  htotten | 11/11/04

Excuse the feeble attempt at humor  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Touche'  John E Wahd | 11/11/04

Certainly  IT_User | 11/11/04

The point is simple.  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Something neither you nor I know  IT_User | 11/11/04

steady Mozilla march over the past twelve months...  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

And at worst  IT_User | 11/11/04

Not today but....  hal9000mx | 11/11/04

Anyone who cared enough would find out...  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

The majority does not know what they are missing  sigmascape | 11/11/04

My point exactly!  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

But just remember  IT_User | 11/11/04

they meant Ex-MSIE users  jwilkinson@... | 11/11/04

no, i think it may be a correct statement  eLurker | 11/11/04

I find this hard to believe  CodeBubba | 11/12/04

He?s right - maybe it is not a threat but the delayed death penalty. (NT)  Vily Clay | 11/11/04

Usual Microsloth Crap  itanalyst | 11/11/04

IE secure? not a threat? and poor journalism  jwilkinson@... | 11/11/04

You Forget ZDNet Has Vested MS Interests  itanalyst | 11/11/04

No, they're vested IBM interests  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

If people are dissatisfied with IE...  John L. Ries | 11/11/04

exactly  saphil@... | 11/12/04

ZDNet ownership  tic swayback | 11/12/04

Quick research  Anton Philidor | 11/12/04

How can one code test/review IE and NOT do the  Laff | 11/11/04

one more  jwilkinson@... | 11/11/04

Aren't These The Same Guys That Said VHS Would Never Overtake Betamax?  itanalyst | 11/11/04

Bad comparison  htotten | 11/11/04

I thought  DarthRidiculous | 11/14/04

Microsoft doing FF a favour  benso | 11/12/04

That's what they said years ago about Linux.  chiishen | 11/11/04

Amen To That Brother!!!  itanalyst | 11/11/04

I'm feeling bad...  ShadeTree | 11/11/04

Hey don't knock it....means less to carry around..:)  Laff | 11/11/04

Excellent point.  sigmascape | 11/11/04

The big thing with Linux will be....  hal9000mx | 11/11/04

... and they were right.  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

Yes, and no.  chiishen | 11/12/04

It maybe just me (as it often is) but istn't simply  Laff | 11/11/04

Firefox worth it...  DB_z | 11/11/04

In Other News.....  itanalyst | 11/11/04

Sounds just like Anton Phildor  John L. Ries | 11/11/04

Can't be  IT_User | 11/11/04

definitely not anton  Monkey_MCSE | 11/11/04

Talking about two people at once is confusing.  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

Definitely  John L. Ries | 11/11/04

Reasonable comments.  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

Re: Reasonable comments.  none none | 11/11/04

Good argument...  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

Sounds like you don't the end of easy money  voska | 11/12/04

Money for nothing and...  Anton Philidor | 11/12/04

There's more to it  IT_User | 11/11/04

The future is Firefox the Longhorn  voska | 11/12/04

Why I switched to Firefox  Jeffhs | 11/11/04

Great Review Of Firefox On Wired.Com  itanalyst | 11/11/04

Microsoft says Firefox not a threat to IE  AmusedAtItAll | 11/11/04

Re: Microsoft says Firefox not a threat to IE  richdave | 11/11/04

Personally I don't thing Microsoft cares  voska | 11/12/04

If I Didn't Know Better...  jbx233 | 11/12/04

Firefox is more enjoyable and easier to use  rgeiken@... | 11/11/04

Firefox is trim by design  tvinson@... | 11/12/04

I love how MS uses the word 'threat'  Unicornrider | 11/11/04

If it weren't a threat, there'd be no reason to speak about it  Monkey_MCSE | 11/11/04

Should he ignore the question?  Anton Philidor | 11/11/04

I just think he could have answered better  Monkey_MCSE | 11/12/04

Probably an honest appraisal, from what he knew  Anton Philidor | 11/12/04

Not honest, given what he knows.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 11/15/04

Breasy.com (tabs in iE !?)  gsoros2 | 11/11/04

Why bother?  htotten | 11/11/04

missing the point  gsoros2 | 12/13/04

Not a Threat?  wdconner3lyh | 11/11/04

My company switched to FF Beta ver 7  saphil@... | 11/12/04

Only thing better than Firefox is Firefox run on Linux  Xunil_Sierutuf | 11/11/04

FF on Linux  saphil@... | 11/12/04

The Fox Runneth  compnstuff | 12/20/04

Mircosoft is dreaming  RR_man | 11/11/04

Microsoft is dreaming  CodeBubba | 11/19/04

Respectable  compnstuff | 12/20/04

One quick fox...  TommyTomTom_z | 11/11/04

MS, I like Mozilla, tabbed browsing is wonderful  FilledOut | 11/12/04

GooOS to take out Softie?  anthonycea | 11/12/04

And I Gotta Bridge in No. MI I'll Sell You Real Cheap  tbbrickster_z | 11/12/04

It's Browser, who cares  voska | 11/12/04

So now make the move to OpenOffice.org  saphil@... | 11/12/04

But in this case....  hion2000 | 12/12/04

MS whistling while passing the graveyard???  MacCanuck | 11/12/04

Firefox not a threat to IE?  dlewis2005 | 11/12/04

Firefox is simply a good browser  CobraA1 | 11/12/04

Well, to me, it is.  Grayson Peddie | 11/12/04

I was just wondering about opposing views  saphil@... | 11/12/04

Longhorn  bwchato | 11/13/04

IE is a detriment to your system  kht2002 | 11/12/04

Of course Firefox is not a threat to IE  null | 11/12/04

re : Microsoft says Firefox not a threat to IE  JasonL31 | 11/12/04

and wasn't there recently some sort of anti-trust case  saphil@... | 11/12/04

IE is even worse for developers  rob weller | 11/12/04

Firefox--the choice of this 6 computer household  daniellita@... | 11/12/04

Tabbed Browsing  andrebranchaud@... | 11/12/04

wish list  rob weller | 11/12/04

re: wish list  Grayson Peddie | 11/12/04

Yes  rob weller | 11/12/04

Tabbed browsing and multiple home pages  sfjanis | 11/12/04

So they think..I changed  JMARIEC | 11/12/04

I think MS is standing in front of a Bazooka!!!  mohitmoudgil | 11/12/04

Why I'm not using firefox, but hate IE  nitrusoxide13 | 11/13/04

desktop search?  CobraA1 | 11/15/04

Firefox and Google Desktop Search  mgordon_z | 11/15/04

google on firefox  cool01 | 12/13/04

Try this  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

Titanic Mistake for IE  mtn2top | 11/13/04

firefox, ie and others  sunnya527 | 11/13/04

Thanks!  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

M$ is obviously fooling themselves  supoman | 11/13/04

Why want they add features, then  ka4nmx@... | 11/13/04

You're still running 9x on workstations?  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

Internet Explorer  bwchato | 11/13/04

"and is no less secure than any other browser"  BitTwiddler | 11/13/04

This is really good news.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 11/14/04

Windows Update  compnstuff | 12/20/04

"The features"? Your kidding, right Microsoft?  maxmejias@... | 11/15/04

Firefox just a MS wanna be  ahkjmu@... | 11/16/04

You mean like they stepped on Netscape? Linux? Java?  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

Microsoft says Firefox not a threat ...  ttocsmij | 11/16/04

MS discontinued support for IE  kiwi704 | 11/17/04

It sucks  beafeater | 11/18/04

Where Have I Heard This Before?  bonafide49 | 11/19/04

Firefox Rules!!  bonafide49 | 11/19/04

The greatest threat to IE is...  gypkap@... | 11/19/04

Firefox? No thanks.  CodeBubba | 11/19/04

Firefox? No thanks.  xptlyrz@... | 11/26/04

Firefox? No thanks.?  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

microsoft and the "threat"  thebigkc | 11/19/04

I agree  hion2000 | 12/12/04

Firefox is crap  ahkjmu@... | 11/23/04

Firefox is crap  xptlyrz@... | 11/26/04

Didn't know someone could be so misguided  hion2000 | 12/12/04

firefox vs IE  flyjumper | 12/10/04

Tabbed browsing  miler528@... | 12/12/04

Why is this article still running?  dl@... | 12/17/04

Firefox-Overrated Junk  Nemesis2All | 12/26/04

Netscape Doin the Trick Just Fine, Thank You  Blampins | 12/27/04

Internet Explorer Suddenly Closing  bobnliz4 | 12/29/04

Firefox  perrydad44 | 12/30/04

Firefox is MOST DEFINITELY a threat  RLGallagher | 12/31/04

Microsoft = Ostrich  Brutus_z | 01/02/05

FireFox not a threat........  jjmoss7375 | 01/02/05

Okay so microsoft is blind.!  voodooman65 | 01/09/05

Im not the smartest one out here . . . but jeesh!  Nientech | 01/10/05

about IE...  watermomy | 01/24/05

Fair warning Mr. Bill  jof | 01/28/05

Microsoft Lives in a PC Ivy Tower  Bion_z | 02/10/05

vamos says public would let them know  hoboks | 02/12/05

Microsoft sites require using Internet Explorer  spaztech@... | 02/19/05

Protest Too Much  TommyTomTom_z | 02/21/05

On second thought...  TommyTomTom_z | 02/21/05

Firefox vs. IE  powerharp | 03/27/05

Internet Explorer  lynbo11 | 03/29/05

I dislike IE Too many pop ups...  Meggers02 | 04/04/05

For web developers WinIE is a disaster  breadwild | 04/08/05

What do you think?

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