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The six browsers I have are IE, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, Chrome and Safari. I have them just in case I find a better way of searching the internet. Sometimes we all need a change. I know it is not really necessary, but I had less than a quarter of my hard drive being used up. Hence, I just thought there was no harm to add additional programs in case I need or want them.
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Browsers can serve as "carriers" for malware. Search toolbars, plug-ins, etc. are all potential vulnerabilities. The more of these you have, the greater the risk.
If I only use one at one time, why would this be a problem? Especially if I have good AV software?
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A lot of programs want to "call home" regularly, or do automatic updates, and other nonsense, OUTSIDE of the browser. Adobe update is just one. There is a large potential for security, malware, adware, and spyware issues, there is a waste of resources, and I would strongly discourage any customer from going overboard with such programs. It sometimes seems that programs are beginning to had attention deficit disorder, paying more attention to personal upkeep than usefulness to the user.
OK, some programs call home outside the browser. If I am not having any problems with them and I have a descent AV system, should I worry about these "call homes"?
Finally, other than taking up disk space...are these six browsers really a problem if I only use one at one time, rarely even using the rest?
Sure. But this is a dumb thing for a non-geeky PC user to do.
No, it's not.
If the OP said they're using p2p to download music, or something similar I'd agree, but downloading six browsers is no biggie as long as they didn't add toolbars, etc for all of them.
I advise looking at your startup and see what (and how many) programs are running when Windows starts.
An easy way to do this (and clean up your PC) is to download Ccleaner and use it to list the items in startup. If you do click on the link at the top right and wait for the gray box to open.
In Ccleaner click on the Tools icon at the left, than the Startup button.
You can put that list here if you want and get advice on what programs you want kept or removed. Look at the bottom right of the startup screen in Ccleaner for the Save to Text File button and copy the text file to here. One of the nice things you can do with Ccleaner is disable an item without removing it so if you find you need it you just enable it again.
As an example I have 2 (count 'em - 2!) programs that run at startup and one of them is a Word file that I created to remind me of stuff.
One the same toolbar in Ccleaner is a place to look at what programs are installed on the system. It's the Uninstall button. Here is where you look for things like toolbars, search programs, shopping programs, etc. And this is where you can uninstall them.
If the OP said they're using p2p to download music, or something similar I'd agree, but downloading six browsers is no biggie as long as they didn't add toolbars, etc for all of them.
Please tell me what practical benefit is derived from having six browsers. I understand why a web programmer, a serious hobbyist, etc. might do this.
hoffdano - I am trying to be much more tech savy and knowledgeable than I have been I the past. Why? I am wheelchair bound and housebound due to weakness in my lower body. So what else is there for me to do most of the day? Computers! Perhaps, I do not really need all six of the major browsers but I figured there was no harm in having experience with each of them, even if I now only use google chrome. I have less than 25% of my hard drive used up, so what do I really need the rest for? I just thought I should have other options open just in case.
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