Would Apple Safari for Windows be the safest browser?

[Ken90630]

A techie acquaintance of mine recently told me he's using Apple Safari as his Web browser (with Windows 7, I think). Reason: He says there are far less security exploits & attacks affecting Safari than IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc. Without researching it, I would guess that's probably true and I don't know why I never thought of this before.

Any of you guys have an opinion on this? Am I missing something, or would Safari in fact be the safest Web browser with a Windows O.S.? What would be the negatives (if any)?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I wouldn't necessarily assume that. There are exploits for every browser and it seems like safari isn't updated that often.

 

[Zargon]

last I heard they basically didnt patch it even when it needed it, but I havent checked in on it in a year or more

 

[Scouzer]

Chrome is safest from what I understand. It was built from the ground up with modern security in mind.

 

[jamesmcuk]

apple suck at security you only need look at how fast the iphone OS is Jail broken lol

The reality is the most secure software is the one that is written in the least used language and used by the fewest people. The reason for this is that there is little point in finding and propagating exploits for things that are hardly used. Hence Chrome being the new boy on the block is probably the safest at the moment - but it wont stay that way. Having said that if you are not using chrome you should be, although it is sad that they have no google toolbar to search for your search terms in page :-(

 

[MrChad]

apple suck at security you only need look at how fast the iphone OS is Jail broken lol

The reality is the most secure software is the one that is written in the least used language and used by the fewest people. The reason for this is that there is little point in finding and propagating exploits for things that are hardly used. Hence Chrome being the new boy on the block is probably the safest at the moment - but it wont stay that way. Having said that if you are not using chrome you should be, although it is sad that they have no google toolbar to search for your search terms in page :-(

This is so wrong I don't even know where to begin.

Security through obscurity is rarely a good idea. Secure software comes from a disciplined design and development approach with thorough peer reviews and good relationships with the user and security communities. Open-source software (such as Chrome's basis Chromium and Mozilla Firefox) is not contradictory with security; on the contrary, lots of users can review the code and help identify security issues before they are exploited.

The safest browser is one that is kept up-to-date and that is run with limited user privileges.

 

[jamesmcuk]

The safest browser is one that is kept up-to-date and that is run with limited user privileges.

I agree (probably shouldn't have used the word SECURE) but I was more talking about the likelihood of attack. Very few viruses are written for macs compared to PC's even though Macs have many security holes.

So while I agree that a well updated browser is great I also think that if its main stream and widely used then its more likely to be exploited.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Isn't safari based on webkit, and therefore subject to all the flaws in Webkit?

 

[Ken90630]

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond back to this thread. I've been dealing with some family issues and other unexpected drags on my free time.

I find some agreement with both of the main ideas of the responses here. It would seem that the browser that's attacked least due to its small percentage in the marketplace (presumably Safari?) would have a security advantage in the sense that it's targeted less often -- even though it may have more holes in it than a browser that's under a lot of watchful eyes and patched quickly when holes are discovered. Anyone disagree?

OTOH, I also agree with Mr. Chad regarding relying on obscurity because if an 'obscure' browser (comparatively speaking) isn't watched and patched conscientiously, it's more vulnerable than one that is IS -- and this is presumably the wild card -- some cyberweasel decides it's worth his time & effort to create a malware exploit for it.

I'm wondering how many attacks (or publicized security holes) on Safari have been logged/documented in the last year or two. Anyone know?

 

[KeithP]

"Security through obscurity" might not be the best way to go.

If your friend really wants to be secure, download VirtualBox and Ubuntu and do all your web browsing in FireFox with Noscript in a Linux VM. For that matter FireFox with Noscript under Windows is pretty darn safe as well.

Sandboxie is another option.

If the only option is a "stock" web browser then, as others have mentioned, Chrome would be a better choice.

As always, IMHO.

-KeithP

 

[jamesmcuk]

"Security through obscurity" might not be the best way to go.

If your friend really wants to be secure, download VirtualBox and Ubuntu and do all your web browsing in FireFox with Noscript in a Linux VM. For that matter FireFox with Noscript under Windows is pretty darn safe as well.

Sandboxie is another option.

If the only option is a "stock" web browser then, as others have mentioned, Chrome would be a better choice.

As always, IMHO.

-KeithP

LOL short of never going on the internet - this is without a doubt the safest option suggested so far!