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| Firefox is increasing in popularity as an
alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer. |
Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus and
spam analysis centres, have advised businesses and home users to
update their version of the Mozilla Firefox web browser, in order
to protect against a number of security vulnerabilities.
Firefox 1.0.1 addresses a number of security flaws involving
download dialog boxes and code injection. It has also changed the
way it handles International Domain Names (IDN). The IDN
vulnerability can help phishers fool users into believing they are
visiting a legitimate banking website, rather than a bogus site
designed to steal confidential data.
"No web browser is perfect, and anyone who uses the internet has
to make sure they stay up-to-date with the latest security patches.
The increasing popularity of Firefox will undoubtedly mean that it
is targeted by hackers trying to attack its users in future," said
Graham Cluley,
senior technology consultant for Sophos. "With organised crime
increasingly attempting to steal from innocent users through
viruses, phishing attacks and spyware, no-one can afford to relax
when it comes to security."
More information about the new version of Firefox, which is
available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, can be found on Mozilla's website.
Firefox is said to have been downloaded by over 25 million
people, and has stolen market share from the leading web browser,
Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.