Mozilla calls Firefox the safest web browser…

http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/security/

So, how is open source safer than proprietary code?   Well, it all comes down to motive.

For example…Microsoft has a specific amount of resources they are willing to pull in to code Internet Explorer in order to make it cost-effective and keep ROI where they want it.  There is a limit to the number of programmers they can hire.  Now, that limit is very high and that programmer base is quite large, but there is still a limit.

Open source leverages desire.  Anyone can help code or help test, and they aren’t paid for it.  So, Mozilla can rally the same number of programmers but at a much lower cost.

So, what’s this about intent and motive?  Well, if you are volunteering your time, then you’ve bought into the vision.  If someone is paying you, maybe you bought in or maybe you just like the paycheck, who knows.

So by Mozilla’s statement, their browser rocks…check out their risk chart:

An independent study shows that, in 2006, IE users were vulnerable to online threats 78% of the time. Firefox users? Only 2%.

When are you at risk?