Haven't read all the replies yet, so may be duplicating. Just visited
the Mozilla home page - Firefox is now in v 1.0 ie no longer beta.
It's a browser only, with Thunderbird as the associated email client
for download (both free). Don't think T'bird includes an NNTP client
(newsreader). The integrated package is Moxilla itself - browser,
email client, news client - currently in v 1.7.5. Their web page
notes 1.7.3 & below had a security flaw. Firefox is slower to load
than IE, but I'm very happy with it. It supports tabs.

Most computer mags pan IE as shockingly insecure, & state Firefox is
far safer.

For NNTP I use Free Agent (from Forte as is the commercial version,
Agent - www.forteinc.com)
I'm very happy with it. Their home page will tell you what extras you
get by paying for Agent. Filtering is one.

Outlook is also extremely insecure. I prefer Pegasus Mail (free from
www.pmail.com) It's currently in v 4.21c; I find it quite powerful.

Hope that helps.

On 7 Jan 2005 09:31:35 -0800, "K Barrett"
wrote:

Hi all,

OK, this is on topic only because we're all reading this group on
computers, so I have a computer question.

My ISP changed to Giganews, making access to Usenet difficult.
Therefore I'm taking this opportunity to research changing from Outlook
Express to some other news reader. I'm also taking this opportunity to
finally stop using Internet Explorer as a browser. Something I intended
to do 4-5 yrs ago, heh.

I'm considering Mozilla/Firefox and Agent. (Unless Mozilla has its own
newsreader... hadn't thought of that)

Any input as to ease of use or frequency of attacks by
popups/worms/viruses etc with these alternate programs? Like would
they be more/less open to attack?

I find I have gotten stuck in my ways and only understand programs of
the 1995-1998 vintage, so I'm anticipating a steep learning curve, as
well as frustration and hair pulling when I make this switch. Its hell
getting old.

K Barrett

Dave Gillingham
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To email me remove the .private from my email address.