Firefox and Mac security sanctuaries 'under attack'

Symantec has attacked the perceived security advantages of Firefox and Apple Macs by drawing unfavourable comparisons with Microsoft’s software and describing Mac fans as living in a “false paradise”. According to the latest edition of Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report, 25 vulnerabilities were disclosed for Mozilla browsers and 13 for Microsoft Internet Explorer in the first half of 2005.

Graham Pinkney, head of threat intelligence EMEA at Symantec, said that switching from IE to Firefox as a way of minimising security risks was no longer valid advice. “Cross-site scripting attacks have been used to attack more vulnerabilities in Mozilla browsers over the last six months than IE,” Pinkney told an IDC security conference last week ahead of the publication of Symantec’s threat report today. John Cheney, chief executive of email filtering firm BlackSpider, replied that the release of Firefox had “helped Microsoft to raise its game” in terms of browser security.

Full article: The Register

Advantages (Pros)

• Fast performance
• Secure browsing
• Good extension support
• Regular updates
• Cross-platform compatibility

Disadvantages (Cons)

• Memory usage
• Feature complexity
• Privacy concerns

Alternatives

Consider Firefox for privacy, Chrome for compatibility, or Safari for Mac integration.

Cross-Device Synchronization

Synchronization across devices requires a user account. Bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs can sync between desktop and mobile versions. This seamless cross-device experience is valuable for users switching between computers and phones.

Developer Tools and Extensions

inspector, console, debugger, and network monitoring provide inspectors, console, debugger, and network monitoring. These tools are essential for web developers and power users testing websites. Documentation and community forums offer guidance on advanced features.