PC Review Forums Software Security, Spyware and Viruses So you think Firefox is safer than IE?

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Old 03-10-2005, 05:11 PM   #1
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Post So you think Firefox is safer than IE?
The head of threat intelligence at Symantec argues that Mac OS X and Mozilla Firefox users are fooling themselves if they think they’re impervious to attack. Out of 38 vulnerabilities discovered in the first half of 2005, 25 were for Mozilla browsers and only 13 for Internet Explorer. Recent trojan discoveries demonstrate that as OS X increases in popularity, it will get more attention from potential attackers. The Register has the full story.

Here
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Old 03-10-2005, 05:27 PM   #2
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Anything that becomes popular gets the attention - from both sides

I personally think the more popular it get's the more vulnerable it will be and more updates would be needed to protect it.
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Old 03-10-2005, 06:21 PM   #3
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Indeed, most alternative browsers only prove more impervious to spyware and viruses as a result of those spyware and viruses being AIMED at Internet Explorer, not neccesarily because they ACTUALLY pocesses any better security features.

Mozilla Firefox is usually agreed to be the most reliable and secure alternative browser, although I much prefere Opera out of ease of use, and I can't say that's ever given me problems either.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you're doing, you should ALWAYS have a firewall open anyway.
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Old 04-10-2005, 07:42 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floppybootstomp
The head of threat intelligence at Symantec argues that Mac OS X and Mozilla Firefox users are fooling themselves if they think they’re impervious to attack. Out of 38 vulnerabilities discovered in the first half of 2005, 25 were for Mozilla browsers and only 13 for Internet Explorer. Recent trojan discoveries demonstrate that as OS X increases in popularity, it will get more attention from potential attackers. The Register has the full story.

Here



Well..... the statistics are slightly out of wack here.
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Out of 38 vulnerabilities discovered in the first half of 2005, 25 were for Mozilla browsers and only 13 for Internet Explorer.
The real test is "how many were patched" and "how many are unpatched?"

http://secunia.com/product/11/


http://secunia.com/product/4227/
Last edited by usalug : 04-10-2005 at 07:48 PM.
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Old 04-10-2005, 08:05 PM   #5
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usalug, I'm kinda glad you posted that

I am fond of neither Symantec or MS, but did think it was interesting

Symantec got their tongue firmly in one spot of MS's anatomy it seems, that fact didn't escape me

All I trying to do really is say 'don't be complacent'
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Old 04-10-2005, 08:22 PM   #6
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An EXTREMELY wise thought

ALL browsers have bugs..... or "could" have , that aren't exploited yet, or known yet. Keeping patched is just one way of keeping the nasties at bay. I quit using M$ stuff about 5 years ago..... haven't had one bug since then. Not ONE.

Do I think Mozilla is safer than IE ....... oh yes ABSOLUTELY.
Do I think Linux is safer than Windows ..... ABSOLUTELY.

Do I think that the extra security i'm afforded means that I can be lax on security..... Absolutely NOT.
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Old 04-10-2005, 08:57 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by usalug
An EXTREMELY wise thought

ALL browsers have bugs..... or "could" have , that aren't exploited yet, or known yet. Keeping patched is just one way of keeping the nasties at bay. I quit using M$ stuff about 5 years ago..... haven't had one bug since then. Not ONE.

Do I think Mozilla is safer than IE ....... oh yes ABSOLUTELY.
Do I think Linux is safer than Windows ..... ABSOLUTELY.

Do I think that the extra security i'm afforded means that I can be lax on security..... Absolutely NOT.

Suse Linux ... +Firefox +built in Firewall +NAT Router.

"Do I think that the extra security i'm afforded means that I can be lax on security..... Absolutely NOT."

Not me either ...
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Old 04-10-2005, 09:54 PM   #8
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Whats a NAT router? ive seen the term used before..
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Old 04-10-2005, 10:33 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Consoles_Suck
Whats a NAT router? ive seen the term used before..


This should help: http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp
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