Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

7 points

Is There A Safer/Better Place to Download a Different Browser?

Hello-

I hope this is the right Community to post this question.

I was notified by a frequent flyer that I would not be getting a fairly large amount of miles because I used Safari, a browser that they say is owned by Google, and therefore since Google has it's own Point system, it is incompatible with distributing the Miles I earned. I tried to get in contact with somebody at the airline to get a more detailed answer as to why I will not be receiving the Miles I earned, but no success. They said I need to use a different browser and they mentioned IE or Firefox.

OK, so I will use Firefox for dealing with this airlines' miles award distribution.

My main question is (I have only used Safari), is there a better place as far as security and staying away from a website that might make downloading Firefox more than the download and install that it should be? For example, ease os the install, installing the latest version of Firefox, etc. When my sister downloaded Chrome recently she found out that her personal info. and other privacy issues had majorly be violated. I would like to try and avoid any problems like this by using a reputable website and download the latest version.

Does downloading another browser on a MacBook Pro that is 3 years old cause any areas of concern that I should be aware of? is there anything different having 2 browsers installed on the MBP that a novice should know about? is there a website that one could recommend that I use if Apple does not have a place to get the latest version of this browser?

I appreciate any special considerations I should be aware of, and maybe there is none, but I do not want to be dealing with the issues my sister is apparantly dealing with from using a website to download Chrome that seems to have violated her personal information and other informat about her system.

If you have a recommendation for a well-known website to get this browswer and if you know what the latest version is for the Mac, I wold appreciate that info.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 500 GB HD 7200 rpm

Posted on Sep 12, 2012 6:23 AM

Best reply

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Posted on Sep 12, 2012 8:35 AM

NObodE wrote:

....Safari, a browser that they say is owned by Google...

Safari is a Apple product, not Google, however Google search is integrated into the browser, not that this should matter any.

...and therefore since Google has it's own Point system, it is incompatible with distributing the Miles I earned.

Seems strange.

They said I need to use a different browser and they mentioned IE or Firefox.

Internet Explorer isn't avaialble for Mac's however Firefox is.

....is there a better place as far as security and staying away from a website that might make downloading Firefox more than the download and install that it should be? For example, ease os the install, installing the latest version of Firefox, etc. When my sister downloaded Chrome recently she found out that her personal info. and other privacy issues had majorly be violated. I would like to try and avoid any problems like this by using a reputable website and download the latest version.

Chrome is by Google which does spy on you. So use Firefox instead.

Here is a safe link for downloading Firefox, It also doubles by checking the versions of your installed browser plugins like Flash, Silverlight etc so that you can update these if they are not current.

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

However Firefox isn't privacy secure from online tracking etc (like from Google) unless additional add-ons are installed (Ghostery, Ad Block Plus, BetterPrivacy, Click&Clean, TACO, NoScript, HTTPSEveryWhere etc.,) if that is your concern. However there is a learning curve to using these browser add-ons so take your time and install one at a time as your web browsing will be altered somewhat as a result. (and some sites you will need to "whitelist" or you can't buy or order anything with the add-ons enabled)

Firefox is just a web browser, they are not interested in tracking your behavior etc., online like Google does.

Firefox will auto-update it and it's add-ons automatically, but not the browser plug-ins as they are cross-browser and installed by the user. Like Flash and Silverlight. You can also use the "About Firefox" to apply the update if there is one manually.

How to install Flash, fix problems

Does downloading another browser on a MacBook Pro that is 3 years old cause any areas of concern that I should be aware of?

No. It's another program like any other.

is there anything different having 2 browsers installed on the MBP that a novice should know about?

None really, you can use all of them (Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox) on a Mac.

They are slightly different than Safari your used too, however things work the same or better in some cases that Safari. Just takes some time to get used to using a differnet browser, however Firefox is the most feature rich browser with all it's customization and add-ons galore. Safari is quite dull and depressing actually.

Easier surfing option for hard of seeing users

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/personas/

is there a website that one could recommend that I use if Apple does not have a place to get the latest version of this browser?

Apple doesn't recommend other browsers, but it's your machine and you can install any software you wish.

Bookmark the link in Safari

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

I appreciate any special considerations I should be aware of, and maybe there is none, but I do not want to be dealing with the issues my sister is apparantly dealing with from using a website to download Chrome that seems to have violated her personal information and other informat about her system.

You won't have that problem with Firefox, likely what occured is she signed up with Google's GMAIL which if you don't signout after logging into it, it will track you and save your search terms. Also with all the ad tracking online Google does too.

Also if she installed any Google software, like Google Earth, can potentially cause issues as it leaves a persistant update program installed.

The thing with Goggle and Facebook is not to use them at all, then they can't track you.

Currently Google doesnt't if you log out, however Facebook will track you even if you log out of Facebook.

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-to-stop-facebook-from-tracking-you-2012 -9

...if you know what the latest version is for the Mac, I wold appreciate that info.

Current Mac version of Firefox is 15.0.1, which will get automatically installed and auto-updates by itself.

View in context

31 replies

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2012 6:41 AM in response to noondaywitch

Hey Noon-

Hope you slept well. :-)

I ran into trouble. Not sure if I really messed things up but I trashed everything from that first go, trying to make sure all Firefox files and stuff were gone. Downloaded another Mac Firefox file, it did not open. the same thing happened, it went to the downloads Safari window then to the Downloads Folder. I clicked it in the Downloads folder, made sure all other apps were closed and ran into an odd problem. When I tried to click the Fox icon I dragged down to the dock, it kept putting the disk image on the desktp, asking me if I wanted to use the disk image to open the file that was downloaded from the internet. I did not think I wanted to keep using that so I right clicked the disk image "looks like a single folder with an opening in the center that puts itself on the desktop, and also at this same time the window that should have opened when the download was completed would also appear on the desktop. that is the box with the firefox logo on the left and the App folder on the right. I would move the firefox logo into the applications folde and a green + sign would appear, then I would move it down to the dock so I had an icon on the dock., I would right click the disk image to delete or eject it and close the folder that I used to move the firefox logo to the applications folder. Everytime I opened the Firefox app by the icon in the dock it would cause another disk image to appear on the desktop and the window with the firefox logo with the applications folder would appear with the window oppening up asking me if I wanted to open a file that was downloaded from the internet. There was an area on this wondow to use the disk image to open the application and not ask this everytimebut I knew that was not the way to go. Before I hit the sack I opened the browser, minimized it, deleted the disk image and closed the window with the firefox logo and the Applications folder, and maximized the firefox browser and was able to use it. I used the icon that was in the Applications Folder and dragged that to the dock so I had an icon to click to open the browser.

I am still not able to earn the SkyMiles at the website Crate&Barrel. I follow the SkyMiles instructions in opening a new website to purchase items after signing in on the website that has the stores' logot to click that brings you to that store.

This time when I installed another firefox browser I did not follow the set up by bringing all of my settings from Safari to the new Firefox browser. I thought it was something maybe that was being brought over from Safari to Firefox, but not only does it make firefox harder to use, it did not solve the problem of not earnng the MIles for purchasing on the Crate & Barrel website.

I should go back and aloow firefox to copy al of my settings, passwords, bookmarks, etc to firfox. I am not sure how to do that now that I told it not to. Also how do I know what plugins to use/? I saw before it took note of my Safari Pluins and put those in /firefox whwixh is probably something I want to do.

I thought this was supposed to be an easy browser to use. I used a different website this time, this one has many different firefox browsers on it depending on the country/language. Most were 15.0.1 but it seemed to give a lot more information.

I would like to try it one more time, delete all I have on my computer by dropping themain firefox icon in AppDelete, doing a check for any signs of firefox around in the various folders/Finder and do one more download, bring my setting overr to the new firefox, follow your suggestion on the plugins, and just use it.

I am typing while upside down in bed so this might be had to read. I apologize for that.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Sep 14, 2012 7:36 AM in response to NObodE

I haven't the stamina to wade through that entire last post. But what I gather is you want to reinstall a new Firefox. If that's so, here's how. You don't need app delete or anything else to do this.

Right click (control-click) the Firefox application in the Applications folder (found in the main Macintosh HD folder) and move it to the Trash.

Next, go to your Home Folder Library>Application Support. Find the Firefox folder and move it to the Trash.

And one more -- also in your Home Folder Library, but this time in Preferences. Move this file to the Trash

org.mozilla.firefox.plist

Next, find one of the .dmgs you have already downloaded. Any of those will do -- stop downloading these things, you already have enough for an army. Double click it open and proceed with the installation once again.

You are making this thing much more complicated than it has to be. It's really quite straightforward.

I have no idea what's going on with the sky miles thing or what you need for that.

Sep 14, 2012 8:09 AM in response to NObodE

You're rapidly losing me…

To put an icon in the Dock you have to drag it from the actual Applications folder in Finder.

As you discovered, trying to do it from the disc image window simply creates a new disc image.

I don't recommend copying over Safari plug-ins; get the correct ones from the Mozilla site if you need them.

By all means import your Safari bookmarks - that's perfectly normal.

Only download from the Mozilla site - you don't know what you're getting from third party sites.

As for the problems with the air miles site - if it won't work in two different browsers, something on the site is causing the problem.

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Sep 14, 2012 3:01 PM in response to NObodE

I'm glad I'm out of this one. 😁

Hang in there fella's. 😉

Sep 14, 2012 3:39 PM in response to NObodE

One thought occurs -

Open Safari

in the menu bar, Safari > Preferences > General

Tick the box for "show develop menu in menu bar"

Then go to the menu bar and the new Deelop Menu

Develop > User Agent > and choose one of the IE options (7 or 8 is probably best)

Now try your site.

Doesn't work in all cases, but if the site is merely looking at which browser is in use, it may work.

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2012 4:23 PM in response to noondaywitch

hey noon-

sorry bro for al of that. all I wanted to do was install Firefox and I ran into all of this. I just got home.

I saw your posts and yur last post about Safari. Is this something you think may be causing problems with the initial problem?

I am not sure what I am going to do. I am lost and sick, physically sick-maybe the flu. Shoot!

with this last post you made, what will this do? I do not want to screw up Safari, now that I hit the wall with Firefox.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Sep 14, 2012 4:36 PM in response to NObodE

That won't screw up Safari. When you visit a site, that site can often see that you're on a Mac and using Safari or Firefox or whatever. It can even see what version Mac or Safari or Firefox you're running What you are changing is called the User Agent. What noonday is telling you to do will fool that site into believing you're running Internet Explorer, not Safari (you could even fool the site into thinking you're running Windows), which it may require in order to do your air miles thing. It won't harm Safari one bit and it can always be easily reversed. It will do nothing whatsoever to any of the ordinary functions of Safari.

It may not work for what you want, but it's completely harmless. Of course, do change it back because if you want to download something, what gets downloaded may depend on the User Agent. E.g., if you set the UA for Windows and you want to DL a version of iTunes, you'll get the Windows version, not the Mac one.

Go here, completely safe, to see what I'm talking about.

http://whatsmyuseragent.com/

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2012 4:38 PM in response to WZZZ

I do not see what noon is saying under the General tba, I see it under the Advanced tab. Is that the same thing?

Yea, I see it in the screen shot that is is the Advanced tab.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Sep 14, 2012 4:52 PM in response to NObodE

His screenshot shows the Advanced tab selected. That's where it is. Next, after checking that, you go to the Develp menu and select User Agent and choose IE 7. Leave it as Mac for the time being, although you could experiment later if this doesn't do it and try Windows.

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2012 6:10 PM in response to WZZZ

Yea I tried that but all the choices are dimmed, not bold, meaning I can't select any one.

NObodE Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2012 6:14 PM in response to NObodE

Well, you can't say I did not try. Thanks for the help. It is much apreciated. If I had more points to give I would.

Peace

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Sep 14, 2012 6:27 PM in response to NObodE

Try quitting then opening Safari again. The first time I did this I saw all those were dimmed too. Don't know why, but quitting and reopening made them appear properly.