'Puter Question?

Okay - I'm sure this is so basic it can't even be considered "tech" help. Got a new computer a couple months ago and it came with Windows 8. Seems to give a couple websites I go to fits. I'm still using I Explorer which I keep hearing is not a good thing. I downloaded a couple virus/malware programs as suggested by Len? I think? One of them, I guess, came with Google Chrome. If I click on the icon it says "isn't your default browser". I don't know what "default" means.. should I click "set as default"?

and/or do I want something different? Please forgive me. Most of the reason I don't know this stuff is I hate computers. But when I think of the literal months of time I used to spend researching material for articles - it's a love/hate relationship. :)

You're allowed to laugh at me - especially if you give me any kind of answer. ;) thnx .. g

If you click yet, that will be the web browser that comes up automatically when you click on links and what not. I have no idea whether that's a good thing or not...

No! You don't want google chrome as your default.
Google tracks everything you do.
So do not make it your default.
Whatever browser screen you want your computer to open up in, is what browser you want.
Right now you are probably opening up in explore and I have yahoo opening up first in the explore browser.
I have Ubuntu also on this computer, as a second browser and trying to figure out how to run it.
Explore is not good anymore and I too have a bunch of programs loaded to keep crap out of my computer.
Do you have anything beside explore loaded on that computer?

Hide, I'm pretty happy with Mozilla Firefox as my browser but I prolly do about the same as you, just use it for the basic stuff. Explorer asks too many damned questions for my taste. Always with the popups telling me something I already know or don't care about. When you do install another browser, you can choose to make it you default or not and the only real difference it makes is when you click on Bucky's infamous nekkid link, your computer will use that browser to open it with. So if that makes any difference to you, then select the one you want it to use and forget it. I 'think' there is a box you can click to 'never ask me this shit again' but I'm not sure. I know mine doesn't pop up that box any more so I must've done something to eliminate it. Come to think of it, my first marriage may have had a chance if I'd had that option to click on.

Nah.

Now the experts can tell you the right way to do it.

BKB

All browsers track what you do and where you go. Google just has a spotlight on them right now. The top 3 are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. They all have pros and cons. All track what you're doing and sell that information to other companies willing to pay for it.

Len

So Len - are you saying IE is okay? comparatively?

No kidding on the tracking part Len. I've actually seen someone on another site (that accepts ads) ask why the site had gay porn advertisements. I was like, "Uh, you may want to check your browzer history..."

Yeah, IE used to be the big kid on the block but Firefox and Chrome haven displaced it to a large degree. Personally, I have all 3 on my puter and depending on how a given site behaves, may switch between them. I think for average home users you should try any or all of them and go with the one that's most intuitive to use.

Once you install a browser, it will attempt to be set as your default, and steer you toward whatever it does to make money. You can laucnh any of them at any time and they'll usually say "Do you love me? Make me your default browser!"

Len

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chicken Dinner

No kidding on the tracking part Len. I've actually seen someone on another site (that accepts ads) ask why the site had gay porn advertisements. I was like, "Uh, you may want to check your browzer history..."

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Heheheh, I've seen that exact thing... On Jimmy's browser, just sayin'

So do you always see cat litter and cat food ads on yours Len?

BKB

Yes but they were recently superceded by "bedlam in your bedroom" ads that were quite intriguing.

Netscape! ;-)

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

So that's why I'm always seeing ads for "how to REDUCE your penis size"...

Internet Explorer10 here...works fine, I do not like chrome, old habits I guess.

i7-3770
HD-6870
8gb ddr3-1600
2x 1tb hhd
win7 64bit

Big fan of Firefox.