In a recently released research paper Stefan Frei, Thomas Dübendorfer, Gunter Ollmann and Martin May analyzed Google Search Engine logs between January 2007 and June 2008 to understand the web browser threat. The research paper brought up some interesting figures including worldwide browser usage, number of users with the latest version of the browser and the share of the most secure browser version.

According to their research Internet Explorer is leading the field with a market share of 78.3% followed by Firefox with 16.1%, Safari with 3.4% and Opera with 0.8%. This means in daily numbers 1108 million Internet Explorer, 227 million Firefox, 48 million Safari and 11 million Opera browsers.

If you analyze that data to find out how many of the users are using the latest version of the browser the picture changes drastically and provides another explanation why Internet Explorer is still the number one target for malicious software.

continue reading "Are you running the latest browser version?"

The latest version of Opera has been released today and is available for download at the official Opera website. The new version introduces several changes to the user interface that has been introduced in Opera 9.5 as well as several security and stability fixes that makes the new version an urgent download for everyone running Opera 9.5.

The release notes list four security fixes and several stability issues that have been fixed, most notably probably a stability issue with Yahoo Mail, menus on Deviantart and the TinyMCE editor.

Opera 9.51 is as usual available for all supported operating systems including Windows, Linux and Apple Mac. Users who already have the RC3 of Opera 9.51 installed do not need to upgrade because both versions, the RC3 and the final version of 9.51, are identical.

continue reading "Opera 9.51 is out"

A security vulnerability came to light recently that affects Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7 and even Internet Explorer 8 that can be used to record keystrokes of a user even if he is switching domains. That means that a specifically prepared website can launch some Javascript that records everything the user does afterwards including text input which naturally means usernames and passwords as well.

Sounds scary ? There is no fix for this vulnerability yet other than to disable Javascript or allow it only on trusted domains. Some researchers claim that other browsers are affected as well but have failed to deliver proof for those claims yet. It would not hurt however to use the Firefox add-on No Script for instance.

The vulnerability can be tested on this page if you visit it with Internet Explorer. It opens a new window and records the user input on that domain. There is an explanation from the same researcher available.

continue reading "You better stop using Internet Explorer for now"

Cookies, or more precisely HTTP cookies, are small text files that are stored on a users computer when he visits a website that is making use of them. They can store session information, shopping cart contents, website preferences, can be used for authentication and for tracking the user.

The first applications are beneficial and most of the time necessary to use all of the functions of a website. Blocking cookies on a website that is storing session information in them will have the result that the user is asked for authentication whenever he loads a new page on the server.

Tracking cookies on the other hand do not benefit the user at all unless you would say that targeted advertisement is beneficial. It does not really make sense to enable cookies for all websites, especially those that use them to track the user. It’s more of a privacy issue but one that many users take serious.

continue reading "Why you should restrict Cookie Access"

It can come quite handy sometimes to access the bookmarks as fast as possible to be able to visit a website without delay. A fast and convenient way is to add an icon to the system tray that provides access to all of the bookmarks. One software that provides that functionality is Links 2 Tray which sits in the tray quietly until the icon is left-clicked.

The bookmarks are then displayed in the usual order including submenus. A left-click on a bookmark opens that bookmark. The real beauty of Links 2 Tray is that it provides access to bookmarks of all three major browsers. The configuration provides settings for Internet Explorer’s Favorites, Firefox’s Bookmarks.html file and Opera.

Firefox changed the way bookmarks are handled with Firefox 3 which means that the user should export the bookmarks into html format once in a while to be able to use them in Links 2 Tray.

continue reading "Access Bookmarks from the System Tray"