Build a Better Web Browser

From CRN.com, Firefox Users most Secure On Internet.

The Mozilla Foundation’s flagship Open Source product Firefox has the most secure user base according to a study released on Tuesday July 2nd. The study titled “Understanding the Web browser threat: Examination of vulnerable online Web browser populations and the "insecurity iceberg” was a group effort. It was conducted by The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Google, and IBM. The study analyzed Web browser statistics and security behavior.

“The researchers aimed to address the growing number of threats launched by attackers in recent years that exploit Web vulnerabilities with stealthy and silent attacks for financial gain.”

What is remarkable about the study’s finding is that 83.3% of Firefox users have an up to date version of their Web browser, as opposed to 47.6% for Internet Explorer. This is a huge disparity, and it speaks to the problem with the current Web browser paradigm. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer comes pre-installed, cannot be uninstalled, is not secure, and is not easy to patch to make it secure for the average user. The complete monopoly Microsoft enjoyed for so many years in the internet browser market made it lazy. It did not innovate and it was content to let third-party vendors create the menagerie of Virus and Malware blocking software needed to stay secure.

"Profit motivated cyber-criminals have rapidly adopted Web browser exploitation as a key vector for malware installation," researchers state.

The danger with using an outdated browser is that it is to familiar. Now, I have had many people tell me that they like the way their browser works now, and they have everything the way they want. Well I would answer by saying that is true; both for them, as well as the average hacker. The sad truth with all technology is that it will be hacked, the longer it is out in the wild, the more likely it has already been compromised.

We are at a point with computers that they are all relatively secure right out of the box. The biggest security threat then for every average user is the internet. The Web browser is where all of the potential threats you will encounter are going to come through. I think people act far to nonchalantly in this regard. There is no other threat as serious as this and it deserves your attention.

So if you are looking at this page in Internet Explorer (as statistically this is the most likely) then update your browser. If it is Internet Explorer 6 then update to 7 immediately as 6 is incredibly old. If you have Internet Explorer 7 make sure you have the latest updates. I would also suggest you try using Firefox, version 3 was just released and I already love it.

Happy Browsing.