thanks Doc,

both of the articles appear to be dated, I see the second with a 2013 date in the link but the code indicates it was originally written in 2008 as well. These are issues that I thought were presented and fixed.

IE8 is still supported. I just had a recent update. Not sure if this has a bearing what so ever but, I believe IE8 is written into the OS (win7) code as opposed to being a separate program.

It's really the OS that is vulnerable with the browser being the gateway into the system. I don't think it really matters that much on the browser but the vulnerability of the OS. I haven't had a problems in that area lately. I would just like my browsing experience to be of my own choosing. What I'm experiencing is that I am in compatibility mode for most of the sites that I visit which causes hic-cups and delays.

I am looking for something better.

Seriously, Doc. Aren't there enough tin-foil hat alarmists and overly paranoid conspiracy theorists in the world already?

What are they going to do? Hack my bank account and steal the .01 in it? Spy on me and find out I'm one boring son-of-a-gun? Steal my collection of 70's Rock and Roll?

Inasmuch as most hospitals, police agencies, banks, fuel and energy supply systems and other major infrastucture systems are XP only software dependant, I guess the end is near and the sky really IS falling.

http://blogs.which.co.uk/technology/computing-helpdesk/helpdesk-challenge-is-my-pc-part-of-a-botnet/ 
another good reason to care especially if you run outdated software that has a complete x-ray done for so many years and is completely transparent. 
Note: This is from 20/04/2013 and is likely outdated 

Here's some info on browser market share for July 2013  http://www.netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2&qpcustomd=0

IE8 has nearly a quarter of the share. To say a site won't support it is abandoning the majority of users!

Typed using FF 23.0.1

according to wikipedia the first recorded botnet was Bagel launched back in 2004. I'm sure there were articles around that time on how to determine if one was infected. So in that sense the article referenced from Which is a rehash of old data, but still useful advice.

Question, chrome users; is the opening page of WC almost devoid of graphics? I'm getting the right side of the page okay but the main section starts out with "latest news" and "recent forum posts", The sections above this are missing.

I'm less worried about being hacked and echo Wiz's comments about what there is to hack into than giving my information away. Here I am using a browser created by a data gathering empire that I enter user names and passwords into. Now that's scary.

has nothing to do with Google or Chrome. the AdBlock extension does that. 

first of all: also install the Ghostery extension (you should do that anyways if you do not like to be tracked).

go to the homepage.

then left click on the AdBlock icon and choose "Don't run on this page".

then the only ad you'll see is the one by Stardock themselves.

there are other things that can happen if your pc gets hacked than just getting your personal information. it can be used to redistribute child porn or other kinds of illegal activity.

if Google scares you, there are alternatives based on the same source code (so the same extensions run as well).

there is Comodo Dragon: http://www.comodo.com/home/browsers-toolbars/browser.php . it's a US company though, so they can be (or already have been) forced to provide a backdoor and/or hand over the user data to the US authorities. just like Lavabit http://lavabit.com/ 

so if you're really concerned about your privacy, the Yandex browser http://browser.yandex.com/ from Russia might be a better choice.

thanks for the advice moshi, interesting that the previews are viewed as ads, that worked.

I'm using "do not track me" at the moment, any major differences?

it was a tongue in cheek comment 

Now this made me laugh. Russia, seriously. I don't know but the Eastern Bloc would be the next to last place I'd look for a browser.

I think I'll end up using two browsers, which is what I do now. I use a 64bit IE for daily browsing and a 32bit IE where I need looser settings.

the Eastern Bloc? is that something that ended in late eighties?

it's your choice if you still want to pretend to live in a cold war world. but it should make you think that at the same time President Putin holds a speech about the persecution of Christian minorities in the Middle East (something my government would never do :(), your head of state celebrates Ramadan fast breaking in the White House.

Yandex is a great company with a good reputation. just like Kaspersky, Dr. Web or ABBYY.

it is US companies that are forced by the US government to eliminate their users privacy. you can read about that in the news daily. for Russian citizens it might be smart to avoid Russian services, but it also works the other way round.

How do you describe that area of the world now a days. Regardless, you knew where I was referring, didn't you.

It has more to do with the amount of cyber crime emanating from those areas and the links from those crimes to the organized Russian criminal element. We know that cyber crime happens everywhere but it seems that the amount of stories regarding this references "that" area and China. It may just be propaganda, I don't know, but it has does have an impact.

Allow me to play Devil's Avocate for a moment ...

I, for one, use Windowblinds because I appreciate how they look and all the hard work the skinners go to, making them works of art in many cases.     Security issues aside, every "improvement" to IE in my opinion has merely reduced the taskbar, etc to Chrome clones ... If I wanted Chrome I'd use it ... I like how much more was skinned in earlier versions of IE.

If there is a way to return all the skinned areas to IE 9 etc .......... PLEASE, someone tell me how and I'll update the browser!

(Thank you all for allowing my rant.)

From you I expected more.

Sure fire security. Take wirecutters, reach behind tower, cut everything....go watch TV and be safe. If a laptop, a sledgehammer will do nicely.

 Life is short, don't spend it looking over your shoulder or hiding under the bed.

Pack your bags Alice we're moving. There's this little country on the other side of the planet called smallville. Its ok if you don't mind the occasional swim when the monsoons pass over.

They had Rock and Roll in the 70's?

Wow .... all I was listening to back then was Floyd....;)