Germany Issues Another Browser Warning, This Time Against Firefox
Once known as the runaway champion over IE and a browser that could actually be trusted against hacks, Firefox has grown so large that it's now considering one of the most targeted and slowest browsers available. We already heard that growing too large, too fast can do that too you, and we have definitely had our fair share of frustrations with the software ever since it hit 3.0 and seemingly went mainstream.
Now, the Germany government is stepping in to warn Internet surfers against the potential security holes in Mozilla's alternative to Microsoft's behemoth of a browser. The Federal Office for Information Security cautioned that "a Firefox vulnerability, confirmed by Firefox makers, could allow hackers to run malicious programs on users' computers." Firefox developers are already working hard on the next version in order to patch the hole that Germany is referencing, with a beta (3.6.2) already available for those who don't mind taking the risk of installing untested software. The comical part? Experts are suggested that switching to another browser might not be a great idea, either.
Graham Cluley, senior technologist at security firm Sophos, had this to say: "Switching your web browser willy-nilly as each new unpatched security hole is revealed could cause more problems than it's worth. What are you going to do when your replacement browser itself turns out to contain a vulnerability? My advice is to only switch from Firefox if you really know what you are doing with the browser you're swapping to. If you stick with Firefox, apply the security update as soon as it's available."
In other words, it looks like Opera or Camino are your only options until this whole thing blows over. Or who know, maybe those aren't so safe either. Feels like a horror movie...
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"Wie ich vor, entweder gesagt habe, dieses ist eine Verschwörung durch die deutsche Regierung, oder sie haben etwas zum lokalen Internet getan, das Löcher erschlossen hat, und nicht die Störung der Browser sind! Die folgende Sache erklären sie vermutlich ihnen, dass ist, dass sie einen neuen deutschen Browser haben, den jeder benutzen muss! Zieg Heil? " Like I have said before, either this is a conspiracy by the German government, or they have done something to the the local Internet that has opened up holes, and is not the fault of the browsers! The next thing they will probably tell them is that they have a new German Browser that everyone must use! Zieg Heil? |
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Firefox 3.6.2 isn't beta. Hopefully Ray just misunderstood and this isn't an attempt to spread FUD about Firefox ("taking the risk of installing untested software"). FF 3.6.2 - releases yesterday, just as the linked BBC article says: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.6.2/releasenotes So, this bug doesn't exist in the current FF. Just click Help|Update, if you haven't already been prompted to do so. |
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*cough*chrome*cough* |
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Again this is why I am staying with Google Chrome. So far so good!!!! |
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WOW... :) La_guy so was fire fox a while back :) lol |
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No bro I was running Internet Explorer until all the security flaws one after another I said enough. I had previously tried Chrome when it first came out but I was so comfortable with IE, you know it's hard to break from something, but I seriously gave it a chance umm about a month and a half ago and never looked back. It's been great!!!! |
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LA_Guy i was saying that fire fox was "So far so good" too awhile back xD Now people are saying they are ending up like IE... I personally still use firefox :) |
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Good job germany... pat on the back |
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For what? Warning people not to use a browser because of a security hole that is already patched? Seriously... |
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Oh ok Inspector yea I was thinking I better not jinx Chrome as I was writing that post. Good luck with your Firefox usage hopefully they get it resolved quickly. |
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Maybe the Jerrys will switch to Opera as well. |
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