Opera security

[jes]

Why is Opera more secure than IE?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

The simple answer lies within (a) that it is less integrated with other M$ applications the way that IE is linked to OE and Office etc and (b) that hackers have traditionally spent most of their time exposing M$ security vulnerabilities.

It is also much more compact in size (so easier to control) and its mail program is just text based. Others will have more elaborate explantions as to the detail but I hope that gives a simple overview.



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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

What of security flaws with Hotmail. I know it is an "M$" program (I like that "M$").
The reason that I ask is because I use a Hotmail account through OE 6 and use Opera as my browser. I am wondering if this leaves me vulnerable.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

If you are accessing your Hotmail via OE then you are subject to all the vulnerabilities of OE itself; if via IE then to its associated vulnerabilities and so on.

By security one presumes you are trying to avoid the entry of viruses, worms, trojans and other malicious entry into your computer and not the security of preventing someone from accessing your mail account.

As things stand one can only access POP3 mail in text format and not webmail from Opera's own intrinsic Mail Program. Hotmail would need to be accessed from the website and I have no experience of doing this in Opera. I think security in this case would be related to the way that Scripting was setup/enabled but someone else may know the full answer.

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

That makes sense. I don't use IE but I use OE.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

HeHe Since my last post I have tried to logon to Hotmail in Opera (never done this before) and failed. I have cookies and JavaScript enabled and ZA turned off and after typing in Login and Password all I get back is the empty login boxes again and with no messages or warnings. Have to look into this now!! LOL http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[john5211]

Hmmm,

I just tried using Opera to logon to hotmail and it worked for me. Settings as follows:

1) Zone Alarm, JavaScript, and Java all ON
2) Proxomitron (ad blocking, cookie management stuff) OFF
3) Opera 6.03 (registered) set to identify itself as Opera

So it's at least possible to get hotmail and Opera to play nice (I did have to go through a screen where MS suggested that I 'upgrade' to IE for better functionality).


John

Oh, I just remembered that I also leave the refferer logging and automatic redirection (found in file -> preferences -> privacy) ON (this might make a difference).

[This message has been edited by john5211 (edited 06-09-2002).]

[Paul Komski]

Thanks john coz I'd never thought of how it was identifying itself. When set to id as Opera the Login worked (but of course I got the messages about not using a M$ product!!)

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

Opera seems to be faster than IE. Does it have a larger cache?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

You can setup the cache how you like. GoTo Preferences [Alt+P] and then to "History and Cache"

There are settings for both RAM-cache and Disk-cache. The ability to use RAM-cache is one of the reasons for the Opera's high performance capability.

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

in opera 6.03, I go file - preferences - privacy and look in the "cookies" frame and there is a button called "edit server filters". Would this allow me to allow certain cookies and block the rest?
In my previous browser (IE6), there was a function to remove all cookies that are allready intalled. Is there a similar function in Opera?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

Check out THIS THREAD (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum9/HTML/002373.html)

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

Thanks! Helps alot! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[jes]

does opera have to be the default browser on the computer in order to work?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

No. And neither does IE etc. It means that when you open an item (like a an html file or a URL) that needs a browser for the display; it should select and open the Default Browser. Personally I've had problems with the various "file associations" getting confused with two browsers installed so after my last reinstall I didn't make Opera the Default Browser. But maybe I just did something wrong the first time. I quite often run Opera and IE simultaneously, since I have Scripting enabled in Opera but not in IE so that if I visit any websites I'm unsure about I use IE and it saves going into and changing the preferences.


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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[mjc]

I am currently running two browsers, IE and Mozilla, and I have Moz set as the default....with no problems, even when running both. So basically I guess it depends on how well behaved the browser is, as to whetehr or not it will share well.

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[jes]

I am asking because my Opera cannot view any web pages sometimes and other times every page but my home page but IE works fine and views all pages on the same computer.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

John5211 alerted us to the setting "Browser Identification" (in Preferences<>Network). MSIE5 had been set on mine (by default I think and I cant imagine why) but changing this to Opera has not only enabled logging-on to Hotmail but has improved the rendering and viewing of Webpages more generally. So thanks very much John.


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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

It happens to IE now too. I think something in my proxy server is screwed. Actually, it is more likely that whole computer. I pieced it together rather crudely and have had it apart hundreds of times. It is made up of old used hardware.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[mjc]

Actually jes, it seems more like software than hardware.....

If you have been playing around and tweaking, it may be time to catalog what actually works, write it down, backup important data and do a fresh install......reset everything.

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Anubis]

I use the latest version of IE 6.0 and it has performed well. Of course I use Eudora instead of Outlook so that may make a differance, I dunno. Its just a browser, frankly it is designed to do the same thing no matter who you choose.

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I can feel the wheel, but I can't steer
When my thoughts become my biggest fear
Ah, what's the difference, I'll die
In this sick world of mine

[jes]

Is there a way to use hotmail through opera mail the way that i can through OE?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[penta_chris]

Nope. And if there was, M$ would quickly change Hotmail to make it impossible.

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I been doing it since I was a young kid
I come out grinnin'
I fight authority,
Authority always wins

[john5211]

jes -

I don't use OE, so I'm not sure how it interacts with Hotmail, but it is possible to access Hotmail using Opera. You may have to tweak some of the preferences (see above), but you can get it to work.

Just wondering, does OE actually download messages from the Hotmail servers, or does it display the web page inside the mail client (FYI, Outlook does the latter).

John

PS - Paul, I have found that some websites render better identifying as Opera and some better as IE, it's something of a black art with no pattern, so I'm always switching back and forth.

[This message has been edited by john5211 (edited 06-14-2002).]

[mjc]

The rendering issue is most likely dependant upon how faithfully the designer followed the standards. IE is not a very standards compliant browser, it deviates in many areas, while Opera is much more compliant. The sites that render well when Opera ids itself as Opera are most likely those that are compliant.

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[jes]

I don't use OE, so I'm not sure how it interacts with Hotmail, but it is possible to access Hotmail using Opera


What setting do I have to change. I will probably have to id as IE5...

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

I know of no way to configure Hotmail (or any other webmail) inside the intrinsic Opera Mail Client - like the way you can access it from within OE. To date it only has settings for POP3/SMTP mail and can only render the messages in plain text (which is plainer but more secure).

It was only from John's post that I learned that you need to have the ID setting as Opera in order to access Hotmail on the web (eg Login on their website).

[jes]

Why would it need you to id as opera as opposed to IE5?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

From Opera's Help under Network.

When a Web browser connects to a Web site, it tells the Web site which browser it is. In an ideal world, all browsers would work with all sites, but that is sadly not the case. Browsers work a bit differently, and some Web sites may intentionally or unintentionally shut out some browsers as a result.

If you experience problems with a Web site, try changing the browser identification and reload the page.

[jes]

I use Hotmail through OE, as I said. How secure is that? What can I do to make it more secure? As I understand, viruses will not come through Hotmail because they scan everything. Is that true?

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

Read Hotmail not immune to viruses (http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-527642.html?legacy=zdnn)

For additional security use an antivirus that can be setup to scan your incoming mail AND KEEP IT UP-TO-DATE. (NAV, AVG and others can be configured to do this with Outlook Express).

Get the latest security updates for OE/IE from Microsoft and make sure that your Preview Pane is disabled from the View Menu (Layout).

Set OE to use Restricted Zones - Tools<>Options<>Security - Set Security Sites Zones to Restricted Sites Zone (eg as set in IE). Read Securing Internet Explorer and Outlook Express (http://www.computerstuff.net/security/ieconfig.htm)

If you are using OE6 there is a V6 tool but Microsoft's OE V6 tool not worth effort (http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-527642.html?legacy=zdnn)

Finally, if you are particularly suspicious about an eMail that you want to inspect, then R-Click on it and select Properties<>Details<>MessageSource. It should go without saying that any eMail with an attachment is suspicious, OF ITSELF, until proved otherwise (whether or NOT the eMail attachment is actually opened).

[This message has been edited by Paul Komski (edited 06-16-2002).]

[kfh]

Hi All,

So if I'm reading this right.
It's an advantage running two browsers at the same time.
I did try this in Win ME but IE and Opera did'nt get on.
Will it be any better in Xp Pro.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Thanks,
kfh.


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Sequitur Patrem Non Passibus Aequis

[Paul Komski]

kfh IMHO there are many advantages in having two browsers installed - if only for troubleshooting, when a site won't load right etc. or by allowing different security settings on each of them. Also, I've never had problems in running two simultaneously (apart from squeezing bandwidth and slowing them both down). BTW, I have mostly been using WinME for the past 9 months.

For clarity's sake; one shouldn't confuse using two browsers and using two browser identities within Opera. I have no experience whatsoever of WinXP.

As for the two browsers not "getting on". It may be me and it may be Opera but I have had conflicts with File-Associations after installing Opera and allowing it to be the Default Browser. I have had no such problems by keeping IE as the default browser and leaving it this way after installing Opera. The only nuisance is that clicking on links etc elsewhere always opens IE (by default) so I have to always work from within Opera and not open it with other files/urls etc. If IE and Opera should get "mixed-up": one fix is to make IE the default browser and then Go Tools<>InternetOptions<>Programs and click on "Reset Web Settings"; this resets all the File-Associations back to their IE defaults and resets any relevant paths (Windows and DOS) correctly. Regardless of using Opera, I think this resetting should always be done when IE is giving problems - in the same manner that one would clear the cache and repair IE etc.

[This message has been edited by Paul Komski (edited 06-16-2002).]

[jes]

Paul - your links for the hotmail virus problem and the ms oe6 are to the same site (zdnet Hotmail problem). I would be interested in reading the OE6 not worth it.
Is the virus problem with Hotmail current. That is an old article.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[jes]

Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[jes]

When I try to upload files into my Yahoo briefcase with opera, it says "Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand" but not with other browsers and i have tried IDing as another browser. Same thing.

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[Paul Komski]

Yahoo's Briefcase insn't the only one in Thomas' list of Web sites that do not have support for Opera 5.1+ (http://hem.passagen.se/thjj/folder/opera_support.htm)

I've no knowledge of how effective Hotmail's "antivirus-scanning" is but I do know that my sister has got two viruses in the past 6 months and she has only ever used Hotmail. I doubt if any a/v is literally 100% effective.

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"Those who say they don't let little things annoy them have never tried to sleep in a room with a buzzing mosquito."

[jes]

Good. Now I know that the problem with not accessing yahoo briefcase is not my fault.
I have heard that M$ and Symantec are working together to make a virus scanner that works like the human immune system and so will not need updates and will just "jump on the problem".

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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.

[jes]

I emailed Hotmail about that link that you sent to me.

Hotmail detects most viruses, but new ones are created all the time. We update
this software with McAfee regularly, but as new viruses come into being, some
viruses may pass through undetected. The best way to protect yourself is not to
open an attachment from someone you don't know or from a suspicious address.



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I’m not trying to do anything malicious…just curious.