Slashdot Mirror
Spyware for Firefox Coming This Year?
EvilCowzGoMoo writes "One of the main reasons for the Firefox browser's successful seizure of market share from Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the desire to escape the inundation of PC-slowing spyware. However, spyware experts indicate that with its increased popularity, Firefox itself will become a target for spyware creators." From the article: "Basically, if you use Firefox today, you're not susceptible to any spyware, other than what you download when you're on Kazaa...The spyware writers target mostly Explorer users because that's the most fertile feeding ground for piranha-like (spyware) attacks. They'll watch as Firefox becomes mainstream, they'll see opportunity there and start targeting them."
The presumption in the article is that, from a security standpoint, the only thing separating IE from Firefox is popularity. Doesn't ActiveX, etc. etc. etc. represent a serious qualitative difference in security problems?
What automatically makes Firefox a "locked door with an alarm system?"
When people mention the popularity argument, what they're saying is that if you have the millions of people vetting Firefox the way IE is, Firefox will quickly become a door that's wide open too. It's already had some pretty embarrassing flaws this year, and that's with the relatively little usage it has right now.
We can make "locked door" analogies all we want, but I guarantee people will find embarrassing ways to exploit your program if it's used by over 95% of desktop users in the computer market.