Firefox vulnerabilities being reported

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 13:55:32

El Reg is reporting a couple of security vulnerabilities in Firefox:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/15/firefox_vuln/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/13/browser_vulns/

Keep an eye out for updates...

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 14:09:03

Thanks Rik, I shall sleep better for knowing that...

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 14:22:44

Time to go to the Opera, perhaps?

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 14:31:24

Thanks Rik, yes it is looking ever more tempting, I do like FF, but if it aint fixed within a couple of days, I will be going to the Opera.

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 14:42:57

Loaded and tested Opera...

No reply feature on this Forum ... good start.

Oh well, back to FF.

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 14:45:53

Quote from: rikbean on Feb 17, 2007, 14:22:44
Time to go to the Opera, perhaps?

I like opera and cannot understand why its not more popular,the "wand" password filler for me is the best built in tool of any browser.

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 14:49:03

Quote from: Inactive on Feb 17, 2007, 14:42:57

No reply feature on this Forum ... good start.

Well spotted m8 hadn't noticed that before

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 14:53:38

Quote from: Inactive on Feb 17, 2007, 14:42:57
Loaded and tested Opera...

No reply feature on this Forum ... good start.

Oh well, back to FF.

I use Opera all the time,I can see nothing missing?

?

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 15:01:39

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Feb 17, 2007, 14:53:38
I use Opera all the time,I can see nothing missing??

The only button i see is the print one

The reply ,notify e.t.c. ones are missing.

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 15:02:21

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Feb 17, 2007, 14:53:38
I use Opera all the time,I can see nothing missing??

Well the bottom bar seems to be missing, obviously it works for you.

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 15:02:57

Quote from: maxping on Feb 17, 2007, 15:01:39
The only button i see is the print one

The reply ,notify e.t.c. ones are missing.

Ditto Max....

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 15:03:32

I use IE7 and it works fine.

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 15:10:21

Quote from: maxping on Feb 17, 2007, 15:03:32
I use IE7 and it works fine.

I use FF and /or IE6, I dumped IE7, I didn't like it.

Strange that this site doesn't seem to function under Opera for me and you Max, but it seems OK for DorsetBoy

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 15:13:03

I know a guy thats used Opera for years i will go ask if he knows whats wrong.

RJM · Feb 17, 2007, 15:46:57

I am afraid just can't get on with Opera.

I don't like that way "bookmarks" are laid out, etc.

I will stick to Firefox - vulnerabilities will be sorted out, they always are.

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 16:37:46

Quote from: RJM on Feb 17, 2007, 15:46:57
I am afraid just can't get on with Opera.

I don't like that way "bookmarks" are laid out, etc.

I will stick to Firefox - vulnerabilities will be sorted out, they always are.

Opera bookmarks are laid out exactly the same as Firefox

RJM · Feb 17, 2007, 16:58:57

Sorry,

They don't appear the way I want them to as in Firefox.

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 17:30:12

I've also found that Opera does some strange things to layouts on some sites, including printing backgrounds that no other browser does.

I liked it, I found it faster than IE &FF, but it just wasn't quite 'me', if you know what I mean.

The vulnerabilities in FF will get sorted, meantime, if we know they are there, we can do a bit to protect ourselves.

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 18:04:54

Quote from: Inactive on Feb 17, 2007, 14:42:57
No reply feature on this Forum ... good start.

Just re-loaded and tested myself, I agree. I assume, knowing the forum adjusts to the browser used, that there's an error in the coding here?

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 18:53:31

Here we go.................

XP SP2 Opera and Firefox tiled on screen.

Click on image to enlarge.

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 19:00:45

Very curious, Dorset. I wonder what you're doing that the rest of us aren't?

Ray · Feb 17, 2007, 19:03:03

Works for me as well Rik just used it to post this reply

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:03:15

The X factor........ 8)

It works perfectly in Linux too.

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 19:04:24

This calls for further investigation... tomorrow.

I wonder if it's anything to do with the fit to screen option?

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:06:02

Quote from: RJM on Feb 17, 2007, 16:58:57
Sorry,

They don't appear the way I want them to as in Firefox.

No problem,you should use what suits you best,but I would love to know what you can't get Opera to display correctly.

Ray · Feb 17, 2007, 19:11:42

Just found another problem with Opera if I read a message and then hit the back button on the browser to go to the forum index, I get logged out of the Forum even with the "keep me logged in box ticked"

Rik · Feb 17, 2007, 19:13:36

Perhaps we need to draw up a list of what we are seeing, things we all see and things that some of us see, and pass it to Adam to check whether there is a coding issue with the forum software?

RJM · Feb 17, 2007, 19:15:35

Broad Sword calling Danny Boy, Broad Sword Calling Danny Boy.

Just posted using Opera.

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:19:40

Quote from: rikbean on Feb 17, 2007, 19:13:36
Perhaps we need to draw up a list of what we are seeing, things we all see and things that some of us see, and pass it to Adam to check whether there is a coding issue with the forum software?

Ah ha............have just seen a fault/change.
Opera has the "Wand" for passwords,you arrive at the first page of the forum and just click the wand to sign in.
This is now not working here,I have to click log in then the wand.......that ain't right.

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:20:54

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Feb 17, 2007, 19:11:42
Just found another problem with Opera if I read a message and then hit the back button on the browser to go to the forum index, I get logged out of the Forum even with the "keep me logged in box ticked"

I don't get that problem in Opera.

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:22:11

Quote from: RJM on Feb 17, 2007, 19:15:35
Broad Sword calling Danny Boy, Broad Sword Calling Danny Boy.

Just posted using Opera.

I thought Danny Boy was a lament not an opera

RJM · Feb 17, 2007, 19:32:25

I have just closed the browser and have come back to the forum automatically.

I must admit, some of the graphics are much sharper in Opera and I have loaded a different "skin" which is a lot more pleasing, so I will keep it loaded and see how I get on.

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:46:18

Quote from: RJM on Feb 17, 2007, 19:32:25
I have just closed the browser and have come back to the forum automatically.

I must admit, some of the graphics are much sharper in Opera and I have loaded a different "skin" which is a lot more pleasing, so I will keep it loaded and see how I get on.

If you hit the F1 key the help suite opens,F4 opens the bookmarks side bar if you prefer that to clicking on the left hand side of the page.Your bookmarks can be set up in Manage Bookmarks and the choice of ways for displaying them is IMHO better than FF.
Look in preferences for the anti phishing feature,it works,I found a site last night that I was going to buy from and Opera stopped me,the certificates were suspect and it was not a secure site as I had thought.

I use Opera for almost everything,there are still a few places it wont work fully but as I find more of its features it makes other browsers look lame.
I also like having the mail client together in one application.

RJM · Feb 17, 2007, 20:05:05

Thanks for the tips DorsetBoy.

I will have a play.

maxping · Feb 17, 2007, 20:48:38

Quote from: maxping on Feb 17, 2007, 15:13:03
I know a guy thats used Opera for years i will go ask if he knows whats wrong.

He told me i needed to either log in if i wasn't already or log out and back in.

It now works

Inactive · Feb 17, 2007, 23:35:52

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 01:54:26

The log out, log in worked for me. No problems with the back button...

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 02:05:59

Testing Opera... Testing ....Testing...

Eureka...it works...

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 02:07:34

Shouldn't that be la, la, la, la,la,la, la?

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 02:08:42

I am so pleased that it works Rik.....and the pages look so bright..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 02:12:52

I don't know about bright, but I do think the pages look crisper.

Certainly warrants a longer test run, methinks.

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 02:14:07

Agreed Rik, it will take a while to get used to, but I shall persevere.

Nothing ventured and all of that ..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 02:27:02

The one thing I miss at the moment is a Google tool bar, but then I'll get used to that - just had it around so long...

DorsetBoy · Feb 18, 2007, 06:02:18

Quote from: rikbean on Feb 18, 2007, 02:27:02
The one thing I miss at the moment is a Google tool bar, but then I'll get used to that - just had it around so long...

Take a look through this section Rik WIDGETS

You can play with your Widgets

Nerval · Feb 18, 2007, 10:30:07

Well, with the greatest respect, this is one of the barmiest threads I've read in a long time.

So there's potential "vulnerabilities" in FF.
Are you telling me any other browser, Opera included, is free of them?

The press is constantly pointing out vulnerabilities - most of which are only actually a problem if you do a,b,c,d,e,f and g all in the right order, while stirring a pot of hemlock, when the moon is full, and will never affect any normal law-abiding user.
And the browser maintainers are constantly bringing out fixes for these vulnerabilities.

It's happened since I started on the internet, and will happen till long after I've gone to the Cats Home in the sky.

To react to it by rushing round shouting "DON'T PANIC" like corporal Jones, and changing away from a browser you're perfectly content with, doesn't seem like the most rational approach.

Then again, whoever said that people are rational had never met any.

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 10:35:31

True Nerv, but I thought I would just have a butchers at Opera anyway, i'm still using FF as it happens.

Nerval · Feb 18, 2007, 10:38:22

yes Active, I tried Opera once and couldn't get on with it.
Can't really explain why, just something I didn't like. but I don't have to explain why anyway, so that's all right!

Been using FF now for a couple of years and really pleased

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:10:06

Quote from: Nerval on Feb 18, 2007, 10:30:07
So there's potential "vulnerabilities" in FF.
Are you telling me any other browser, Opera included, is free of them?

<snip>

To react to it by rushing round shouting "DON'T PANIC" like corporal Jones, and changing away from a browser you're perfectly content with, doesn't seem like the most rational approach.

I reported the vulnerabilities, Nerv, so that people would be aware of them and could take what steps they consider necessary. One of the reasons people adopted FF was that it was considered more secure than IE. However, at the moment, it appears to have issues.

I think it reasonable for people to try Opera if they haven't before. It claims to be the most secure browser, and I've not heard of a security problem with it. It does have some speed advantages over FF & IE, eg it seems to render pages more quickly and has a smaller footprint. It also has some quirks, like any program, which some people will find irritating and others will find totally natural.

I don't see any signs of panic in the thread. People are trying an alternative browser, just as they once tried Firefox after years of being happy enough using IE. Is that so wrong?

For myself, this is the second time I've trialled Opera, and there's just something about it that I don't quite like - it doesn't 'work' for me. OTOH, Dorset gets on with it well. In the same way, I'm still a WordPerfect user, having started out in DOS days, but Sue prefers Word.

I think it a function of this forum that we alert each other to potential problems and suggest any cures that we are aware of, so I don't think the thread barmy, I'm afraid.

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:14:08

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Feb 18, 2007, 06:02:18
You can play with your Widgets

Thanks for the link, Dorset. I played with the widgets, but have to say I found them messier than the equivalent functions in FF or IE. For me, there's something quirky about Opera that I just can't quite get around - it has many advantages, some disadvantages, but the bottom line is it doesn't feel right for me. I'll give it a few more days and see whether the scales fall from my eyes though.

DorsetBoy · Feb 18, 2007, 11:15:17

I reckon Nervs has got a whopping hangover this morning..............either that or Sooty crapped in his slippers

Nerval · Feb 18, 2007, 11:17:07

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:28:08

Well, Dorset, something seems to have upset him.

stevelondon · Feb 18, 2007, 11:31:49

I prefer rock i hate opera

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 11:40:02

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Feb 18, 2007, 11:15:17

I reckon Nervs has got a whopping hangover this morning..............either that or Sooty crapped in his slippers

I just gave him a Karma..seems like he needs it..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:41:46

Quote from: stevelondon on Feb 18, 2007, 11:31:49
I prefer rock i hate opera

How about Tommy, then, Steve?

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:42:26

Quote from: Inactive on Feb 18, 2007, 11:40:02
I just gave him a Karma..seems like he needs it..

How do you think his karma count got so high - Nerv goes for the sympathy vote.

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 11:45:58

Quote from: rikbean on Feb 18, 2007, 11:42:26
How do you think his karma count got so high - Nerv goes for the sympathy vote.

I knows that Rik, but i'm a big softy..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 11:59:51

In that case, you'd better have one too.

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 12:09:50

Ditto... we all need Karming ..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 12:24:11

Thanks, but as my count dropped two before you added yours, I seem to have upset people...

Inactive · Feb 18, 2007, 12:32:42

Can't give you another one for an hour..

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 12:46:08

That's OK, I appreciated the first one.