If you're a typical user of Microsoft's Internet Explorer(E), you've probably had problems with viruses, spam, computer attacks and goodness knows what else. The fact is, IE is a a very good browser in many respects but the bad guys just love to hack at it and bombard you with nasty bugs.

However, there is a better browser available that's not subject to all these viruses and attacks.

This browser is called Mozilla Firefox from mozilla.org and it's also available free. All you have to do is download it from www.mozilla.com.

Now, what might you ask, is mozilla.org?

Mozilla.org is a non-profit foundation that exists to provide organizational, legal, and financial support for the Mozilla open-source software project. Open-source software means that the foundation's products are literally the work of hundreds of software engineers and programmers around the globe who contribute their skills and expertise to Mozilla products.

Why is Firefox “the better browser?

First, it gets less attention from hackers which means fewer viruses, et al. Second when hackers do discover a flaw in Firefox, the member of Mozilla.org rush in, and I mean rush in, to fix it. I have personally seen three flaws discovered in Firefox in the past six months and all were fixed and patches provided within two days.

Third, Firefox has several features still lacking in IE. Probably the best is one called “tabs,” that lets users open many different web sites at the same time, and then tab back and forth between them just by cliking on the tabs. For example, I have six tabs open right now, representing six different web sites. Theoretically, I could have 12, 15 or 20 sites open simultanrously, but that would probably just confuse me.

In addition, Firefox has drag-and-drop tabbing, an improved pop-up blocker, improved live bookmarks, a great download manager, and a new automatic update system that alerts you whenever security and functionality updates become available,

The current version of Firefox is 1.5. It also has all the stuff you'd expect with IE – bookmarks, tools, a link to free Hot Mail, and so forth. You can also download a number of different plug-ins to customize Firefox to your needs. For example, you can add FlashGot, Adblock, PDF viewer, an RSS news reader, QuickTime, and more.

The fact is, Firefox is fast and easy to download. You can try it and, if you don't like it, just go back to Internet Explorer. However, my bet is that once you've used it, you'll kiss IE goodbye.

Here's something else that's better and also free. It's a new technology called HD Radio that enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally. This is a tremendous technological leap from today's familiar analog broadcasts. These digital broadcasts provide listeners with radically improved audio quality, more radio channels through multicasting, and new data services. To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz.

Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of more than 70 articles on HD radio, the Internet and family finances.