I’m switching from Firefox to Internet Explorer

I moved to Firefox because of the security issues.

Running a business computer, there are files on this harddrive I would rather other people not have access to. Or my online accounts. I need to ensure by business PC is secure and reliably secure.

I gave up on Internet Explorer after it executed a virus it found on a page about comic artists, of all topics.

I had only just reformated my harddrive, connected to the internet after, only to have 3 pieces of malware downloaded to my machine - because IE executes scripts without permission.

Firefox does not.

So why move from Firefox to Internet Explorer?

Simple: marketing.

It should be common knowledge among most people now that Google use their Google Toolbar to collect all sorts of data. They collect data on which pages are visited, for example.

What the recent Google patent release shows is that Google have considered the possibility of using this information to get an idea of which sites are more valuable for users.

In effect, that makes the Google toolbar possibly more like an Alexa toolbar - you install the software, not because you really care about the various ranking figures - you just want to ensure that you can vote for yourself.

So that’s what I’ve done. I have the Google Toolbar installed. And I have the Alexa Toolbar installed. And I feel like I’m voting for my sites everytime I use it.

Oh, don’t get me wrong - I’m not suggesting that Google are actually using that information for ranking purposes now. But I don’t intend to be at the back of the queue when they do.

Platinax has healthy traffic, but it needs focussing more - at the moment it has a pitiful presence on important keywords - such as business forums, for example. When the forums here existed as business talk, I had a good ranking for that keyphrase - it brought in the extra forum visitors.

Plenty of spammers. But also bricks and mortar people asking important questions about business online. That’s what I’m missing at the moment on the Platinax business forums.

Oh, I know that this site is still establishing itself - it’s only around 7 months old - but the frustrations of pushing a new site against issues such as sandboxing, means that despite my personal objections, it’s time to put my head down and ensure Google knows this site is here, and people use it frequently.

So on all of my sites and safe surfing, I’m now using a Google & Alexa powered Internet Explorer. I’ll vote for myself at every opportunity.

And when I go for a general surf, that’s when the trusty old Firefox will come out.

After all, I’m typing on a business computer. There are files on this harddrive I would rather other people not have access to. Or my online accounts. I need to ensure by business PC is secure and reliably secure. But I also have to help my sites on the marketing radar.