Apple No Longer Updating Safari for Windows, Users Should Switch To A More Secure Browser
Subject: General Tech | August 6, 2012 - 05:55 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: windows, webkit, security, safari for windows, safari, browser, apple
The Apple-developed Safari is one of the least popular webkit-based browsers on Windows. Even so, it still commands 5% marketshare (across all platforms), and that is a problem. You see, many sites are reporting that Apple has dropped support for Safari on Windows. Windows users will not get the update to Safari 6–the new version available to Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7 Mountain Lion users. As well, it seems that Apple has removed just about every reference to ever having a Windows version of any Safari browser from its website.
Image Credit: MacLife
The issue is that the final version that Windows users are stuck with–version 5.1.7–has a number of documented security vulnerabilities that are never going to get patched by Apple. According to Maximum PC, there are at least 121 known security holes listed in Apple’s own documentation. And as time goes by, it is extremely likely that the number of unpatched security holes will increase. Running an outdated browser is not good security practice, and running a browser that is EOL and has known vulnerabilities is just asking for trouble.
While the number of PC Perspective readers running Safari for Windows is likely extremely small, I would advise that you be on the lookout next time you are doing tech support for your friends and relatives, and if they managed to get roped into using Safari thanks to Apple’s Itunes software updater convince them to move to a (dare I say better) more secure browser like Google’s Chrome, Opera, or Firefox. At least those are still getting updates, and some are even automatically done in the background.
Have you ever used Apple’s Safari for Windows browser? What would you recommend as the best alternative? Let us know in the comments below.
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I've used Safari on Windows, but only for testing website designs. The fact that the keyboard commands are different from just about all the other major browsers was enough to make me hate it, even in my relatively brief time using it.
I'd recommend Chrome or Firefox as a replacement. Chrome might offer the least friction for a switch, since it uses the same rendering engine as Safari.
Agreed Chrome or firefox.
Safari on windows was never bad I've used a few times, it just was never as good as firefox, chrome or even opera. But I think it was better than all but the most recent versions of IE.
Heck, I don't even use safari on osx anymore,
I switched to Safari because I don't like Firefox, Chrome, or IE and Opera kept freezing my system up. If I were forced to choose, I'd be hard pressed, but might go with Chrome. Opera has been my favorite by far for years, but it is too processor heavy for little netbooks. I'd rather stay with Safari, but with more than 100 security issues, I think I'll be moving along.
I use Firefox and Chrome. I have been starting to use Safari and love the Reading List feature. Too bad they are scraping Safari for Windows users. Having used Safari, I would pick it over the others if it could have synced my info.
I used Firefox until it got bugged with the babylon-search worm and I had to spring-clean my computer. Firefox has done nothing to correct the problem, and I together with many other users, sent Firefox back to its rotten nest. I used Chrome for a while but I hate, really hate and am totally disgusted with Google forcing on me local websites and useless local ads. Can't accept that shovel down your throat attitude from Google. Never will buy anything advertised there just for that. Principle question. Then switched to Opera, and it forced my system down to snail pace. So I use a combination of the above, hoping that one day, someone will take the Safari path and offers internet users a really good, reliable browser, that will not anymore force us to choose plague over cholera.
Thumbs down to Microsoft, reducing Apple to a gadget. SHAME on anyone curtailing our rights to their greed.
Have you considered that you might have a problem with malware, not necessarily with any browser in particular?
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