Explorer 8 is most popular web browser

While Google leads Microsoft when it comes to search engine popularity, Microsoft is leading the race for most popular web browser, in news which may be of interest to search engine optimisation marketers.

Internet Explorer 8 has become the world's most popular web browser, achieving more than its predecessors Explorer 6 and 7, according to NetMarketShare.

While Internet Explorer 8 went from 1.75 per cent in March 2009 to 22.31 per cent in January 2010, version 6 of the browser slipped from 31.38 to 20.07 per cent, version 7 from 35.15 to 14.58 per cent and Firefox 3.5 from zero to 17.10 per cent during the same period.

Commenting on the news, Cliff Saran, managing editor of Computer Weekly magazine, said: "Some people prefer Firefox, which has less security issues, simply because fewer people use it - it is not worth the time hacking Firefox since an Internet Explorer attack will affect more users."

He added that Google Chrome also looked to be a promising alternative.

In January, Germany's Federal Office for Information Security warned against the use of Microsoft's browser and recommended its citizens find an alternative to it, after Chinese hackers attacked Google.

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