Firefox fans put new spin on browser protection

CNet News ^ | 04/20/2005 | Paul Festa

[r5boston]

As security bugs swarm around the Firefox browser, volunteer marketers want to shore up the open-source project's security message.

With Monday's reports of the Mozilla Foundation's patches for significant new security holes that could let attackers install malicious code or steal personal data, Firefox partisans are finally acknowledging that the core sales pitch for their browser may be vulnerable.

"The versions of Firefox up to version 1.0.3 have had terrible security risks," wrote one participant for the volunteer Firefox promotion, Spread Firefox. "I think these security risks have undermined the promise of Firefox as a more secure browser."

While Firefox offers popular features like tabbed browsing that Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser doesn't have (third-party IE-based browsers do offer them), it has managed to take IE down a few notches in market share--primarily based on perceptions that Firefox is safer than IE.

As Firefox approaches the 50 million download mark, some participants have begun contemplating celebrations of that milestone. But others have begun to fret that security concerns are weakening what many see as the browser's primary raison d'etre.

[frogjerk]

If they keep bringing their systems to me, I think I will begin installing firefox on their machines and setting it as the default browser.

You will thank yourself that you did.

[timtoews5292004]

Believe it or not, I find the "tabbed browsing" feature of Firefox completely over-rated and don't use it.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I find the "tabbed browsing" feature of Firefox completely over-rated and don't use it.

Wow. That's the main reason I started using it. The security aspect was just a perk.

[timtoews5292004]

not me, man. Technically, I don't have enough time to read one thing at a time, let alone switch between several links at once.

[blaze]

Trojan.root.hijack,media acess,sasser,It may have come in when wife used I.E., some sight for Las Vegas. I would like to use firefox,I loaded it the day it came out, and liked it. My pop up blocker in spyware doctor, is only set up for I.E.. I may have had my fire wall down. If you think fire fox is safe to use, maybe I'll try it again. After the sasser ordeal, I'm a little gun shy.

[Asphalt]

I decided to try firefox instead of IE for a day, and so far I am not impressed. I get a ton of pop ups, and I am not a big fan of tabbed browsing, so there really aren't any advantages.

[Asphalt]

I get a huge amount of pop ups on Firefox. IE gives me about one a day.

[N3WBI3]

Well you should still have a firewall up, its just good practice.. But I dont get much in the way of spyware and I use FF about 80% of the time..

[N3WBI3]

What sites are you getting pop ups on? I get maybe three a week..

[yellowhammer]

Also:

Mozilla flaws could allow attacks, data access

[blaze]

I have it on, all the time now!

[KeyWest]

Stop Firefox pop ups in the settings under options. Only reason you get them is if it is not set to block them.

[Tannerone]

I get exactly the opposite any time I use IE pop ups by the gallon.

In Mozille follow this path: tools\options\web\make sure the box is checked to "block" pop ups.

Absolutely no complaints about Mozille. IE is now a rarely used backup.

[Asphalt]

The box is checked and I get about three every time I go on the internet.