FireFox not as safe as people think

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #1 12-11-2009, 11:06 PM

Article about sums it up:

http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=8489

Interesting. I didn't expect there too be too much difference between the players.

Dave

edit: Notice that you can download the actual report in PDF too (linked at the bottom of the article). Makes fascinating reading.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #2 13-11-2009, 01:18 AM

The important stats are how many crooks exploit the vunerabilities in the which browser. Quite possble that IE is lower in vunerabilities but the hacker count could be quite high for IE than other browsers.

Microsoft made a name for itself to be the most hated and targeted online company.

supernova1965 (Warren) · #3 13-11-2009, 06:29 AM

Hi All

You can make firefox even safer by installing addon's like WOT which is a rating system for websites that is rated by user's Green means go for it through to Red Don't go there. It helps to make the choice as to whether to go to suspect sites.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #4 13-11-2009, 08:47 AM

You can also add "noscript" as well (to FireFox).

Malcolm - FireFox usage is probably near 35% these days, with IE6/7/8 taking up nearly the rest. I think you'll find that as FireFox grows in usage, so will the total number of exploits, and this is what we are partly seeing.

FireFox has a larger memory footprint than IE (I see it all the time on our TS server @ work), and from my experiences at home and work, is more unstable in general usage than IE7. That said, I do have several extensions installed on my FireFox @ work (and at home for that matter), and it is possible that they are adding to the instability that I'm seeing.

Dave

alfi (Alf david) · #5 13-11-2009, 09:18 AM

hi
adblock plus is also a nice plug-in for firefox.
i only use the daily builds of firefox, as i like to see the next thing to come, and have had no problems with that, only some java scripts that dont work from time to time.

alfi

kustard (Simon) · #6 13-11-2009, 10:37 AM

As David has pointed out, adding "NoScript" to Firefox improves it's security and I usually advise people to install this addon if they are going to run Firefox.

There has been a vast improvement in performance (especially memory leaks) from FF3 to FF3.5.

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #7 13-11-2009, 11:58 AM

Well...I looked at that repost and what a croc!

No mention in the article of which versions of browser used had vulnerabilities nor plugins for firefox tested..in fact no details at all. Cenzic is co funded by Symantec nuff said.

I'll stay with Firefox &:
Adblockplus;
flashblock;
No script;
Download status bar;
English (Australian) dictionary;
Net usage item.

edit:
yes firefox does use too much memory ...something I'm not to happy about either.

RAJAH235 · #8 13-11-2009, 09:10 PM

FUD.

More feedback...
I have, at present, been online for 6 hrs, doing my Mods thing @ the Mozillazine
forums/fora?
I usually have 8 or so tabs open, have ~30 extensions installed
& Task Manager reads 180Meg mem usage.
Doesn't rise much above 300 Meg after 10 hrs of use.
No probs with hanging/crashing etc...
The 2 best extensions....No Script & Ad Block Plus, with the nec Filterset/s.

(^ wyw...You don't need Flash Block if you have No Script....Try "Stop Auto Play".)

Tandum (Robin) · #9 13-11-2009, 09:24 PM

I just use ie and avg and don't have any issues. As far as I can see, going by client call outs, winantiviruspro is the only crap that gets past avg, but it also gets past every other scanner on the market as it, in itself, is not a virus. I class it as blackmailware

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #10 13-11-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

(^ wyw...You don't need Flash Block if you have No Script....Try "Stop Auto Play".)

Thanks Rajah...I'll have a look at that.

Currently at 65Mb with firefox open.

edit:

Browsing for 1/2 hour (3 tabs open) ...firefox memory usage now at 110Mb.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #11 13-11-2009, 10:00 PM

Well, all I'll say is that the data has been drawn from a variety of organisations that are VERY well respected in the field of security. Before you say FUD, I'll ask how much you know about computer security? If you know bugger all, them you're not really too qualified to say too much imho.

Dave

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

FUD.

RAJAH235 · #12 14-11-2009, 12:01 AM

Computer security?
Not much....just enough to know how to keep my Firefox safe.
Never had a "bug" on board......'cept when I used IE.

Will now retreat to my Mozillazine duties & leave the Astro stuff to the
"experts".

Regs, L..

mithrandir (Andrew) · #13 14-11-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasyoungonce

Thanks Rajah...I'll have a look at that.
Currently at 65Mb with firefox open.
edit:
Browsing for 1/2 hour (3 tabs open) ...firefox memory usage now at 110Mb.

Does that include memory shared with other processes.

Mine has been running since Nov 07. I had 30-40 tabs open at some point. 15 at the moment.

Virtual 592m Resident 389m (27m shared with other processes)

Andrew

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #14 14-11-2009, 11:40 AM

Andrew..I have never looked at shared Dll memory processes.

How..Admin tools/performance?