Posted on 02/09/2005 8:38:29 AM PST by KwasiOwusu
It hasn't been a good week for Firefox and its fans. First, the Danish security company Secunia warned that it had uncovered a vulnerability in Firefox and other browsers that can allow the URL displayed in the address bar and the SSL certificate to be spoofed, which means the browser and others are vulnerable to phishing attacks. The flaw affects all browsers built using the open-source Gecko browser kernel.
And this time around, Internet Explorer is not vulnerable to the attack.
Making matters worse, a few days after that, a security researcher found a trio of security bugs that affect Firefox and Mozilla -- but not Internet Explorer. Among other dangers, the bugs can allow someone to steal your cookies, and then use them to find out personal information about you and log into web sites with your login.
Perhaps most disturbing is that as of this writing, although fixes have been found, they have not yet been rolled up into a patch, or made available in a new Firefox version that can be downloaded and installed.
(Excerpt) Read more at onlamp.com ...
There's a gestures plug-in for Firefox that you may want to check out. I use it somewhat since Firefox doesn't cooperate with the touchpad gestures the device driver (and IE) support.
Internet Explorer version 6.0.2900 or higher with the XP SP2 seems to resolve a lot of issues.
It is becoming a better and better product.
I caught some fire (no pun) and scorn in a Firefox thread for suggesting it'd have its own share of bugs and attacks, once its public profile became prominent enough to attract attention.
I'm still waiting for all the apologies.
Dan
(c;
The flaws in your logic are staggering. I've said not a word about open source, and the fact is I'm completely indifferent to the genesis of any particular product. Moreover, I've been entirely clear that this has nothing to do with the number of viruses - something you apparently don't want to give up as it's all you have to hang that flimsy argument on - but in the number of actual security problems in the software. Just because someone hasn't written a virus to take advantage of a flaw doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Though I do understand where you are coming from. Microsoft has quite the record of pretending that flaws don't exist and covering them up from public knowledge.
Show me the Firefox equivalent of this and maybe I'll concede that you have a smidgen of an argument: http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22103358
Work around for the top paragraph security hole, which is in the Gecko kernel, at http://users.tns.net/%7Eskingery/weblog/2005/02/workaround-for-idn-spoofing-issue.html
I have three browsers, and both IE and Netscape work well.Initially I liked Firefox for reading and browsing, but I can't seem to compose with it.
BTW, I have always used Zone and a good Anti Virus and popup blocker and I have never been unhappy with IE.
Currently, my laptop will not support SP-2. (something with the processor) But it works great.
It just does not like Firefox.:-)
Do you realize how much you discredit yourself when you call multiple people who haven't said a word about open source, "open source shills"?
Your behavior, on the other hand, is most easily explained if you happen to be a PR agent for Microsoft or have some other vested interest. Certainly logic is not among the tools you are employing on this thread.
Yep, you fit #1 perfectly, if you can't back up your argument with facts you go off on another tangent. I noticed you just joined in Oct of last year so the verdict will be out on you for quite some time yet. Anytime you want to refute any of my posts to you with facts feel free to do so. I will check back ever so often to check on your progress.
Microsoft IE is a security nightmare far and beyond any other program on the market.
Yes, at this point we can reasonably expect him of engaging in commercial activity on FR. His behavior goes far and beyond discussion on the merits, indeed he hasn't even attempted to discuss merits, and has changed the subject with every challenge.
"The most secure MS software is the stuff that's too old to write viruses for."
Very true! I use a Win98 machine for cruising sites with hostile scripting for precisely this reason!
People have rightly accused Microsoft of not posting security patches quickly enough. But up until now, Firefox developers have always been quick to react with security fixes.
Let's hope that this is an anomaly, and patches are posted quickly. I'd hate to see Firefox get bedeviled by the same problems that afflict Internet Explorer.
Check it out Kwasi, your OWN ARTICLE REFUTES YOU.
Yawn. Assert, assert, assert, but never show proof. You ARE a Microsoft employee, aren't you? That's twice now you've accused me of being partial to open source. You're free to scan my comments - I have 7 years of them here - for any shred of evidence to back that up.
I'll give you 24 hours then I'll have the mods take a close look at your trolling behavior and decide whether the balance of evidence shows you to be engaged in commercial activity and/or unsubstantiated personal attacks here. Start hunting!
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