Microsoft’s security program manager uses Mozilla Firefox, not Internet Explorer
With millions of dollars invested into research and development of software products (at least that is what they say), you would think that Microsoft’s employees like their own software. There are instances of irony when employees are found using iPods and trashing Zunes, but that can be ignored because Microsoft is primarily a software company.
Well, it turns out that Microsoft employees not only hate Microsoft’s own products, but some of them publicly admit to using alternative software that compete with Microsoft’s products. Imagine my surprise when I recently read in an article on Wired dated 2004 that the then Microsoft’s security program manager, Stephen Toulouse, publicly admitted to using Mozilla Firefox.
In the preceding paragraph, Toulouse admits that Microsoft had not released any patches for the security vulnerability even a month after its discovery. Then, when asked whether Firefox and Opera were even more appealing because of the security flaw in Internet Explorer, his response was:
Q. Meanwhile, Firefox and Opera look awfully appealing, don’t they?
A. Security is really an industry-wide problem. Just this morning I had to install an update to Firefox to block a flaw that would’ve allowed an attacker to run a program on my system. We’re working around the clock to make Internet Explorer safer, and we’re making changes with our Windows XP Service Pack 2 to make browsing a lot more secure.
Note: The emphasis in the above paragraph was added by me to, um, emphasize.
Granted, Toulouse admits this back in 2004 when Internet Explorer 7 did not exist, but when you consider that things have not exactly turned around with the launch of IE7, this is significant. Also, he says this in a tone that tries to degrade Firefox, but the important thing is that he does admit to using Firefox. Skeptics among you may suggest that he simply keeps Firefox for some purpose other than browsing - but you must remember that he was not a designer or someone else who requires Firefox for work.
It goes to show how pathetic and helpless Microsoft’s employees are, with regards to the (lack of quality of) Microsoft browser browser-wannabe (I refuse to consider IE a real browser). The reasons are many, and we know it - low adoption rates of IE7 and the life-long luggage of having to ensure backward compatibility (which means that Microsoft has to use code from previous operating systems and hence carry over their vulnerabilities).
[Original interview at Wired Magazine]
Image Credit: Lordcolus
most people use Firefox and ie. read last year security review for browser you will find the firefox is more prone to security flaws as compare to IE.
@Ajay: Basing your opinion on some lopsided reviews alone can be dangerous. Mozilla is not an evil corporation usually, whereas Microsoft has been. If someone said IE is more secure than Firefox, I’d have to think twice about the neutrality of the source.
@Ajay
Think twice before you speak! I cant just believe any tech review!! Everyone knows how safe and secure IE is! And at the present time when browser war is going on with Firefox 3 in news, Opera 9.5 hitting the screens and Safari 4 developer sneekpeak with 100 acid complaint.. Where is IE in this whole picture???
If somebody works in MS does not mean he cant use Firefox. Even MS knows they havent built IE that good.Another thing is If i make kind of product you also make, I will definitely use it find out what you got better and I can also put it in mine. Simply Business!!!!