Security Patches for Firefox

Firefox patches are available now. Three of the fixes are deemed critical:

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Internet Explorer Security Issue

There is a serious issue with Internet Explorer (IE). The problem is critical enough that a security firm has advocated not using until the problem is resolved:

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Solving a Google Problem: Google News Given for the Wrong Country

There is an annoying problem that occurs for some Google users. Upon clicking for the Google News section, the wrong country is shown. For example, the person wanting to read the Google News may be in the United Kingdom and wants the U.K. items but Google presents the items from Google News France. Then the person has to change the setting, which, unfortunately, do not stay changed.

The following is a ‘work-around’ for this problem:

• delete the cookies
• go to Google News (the section may still show the wrong country)
• select the correct country from the drop down list
• click “Personalize this page” which is located at the top of the right hand column
• make any changes or, if you prefer, do not make any changes
• click “Save”
• exit the browser completely - not just close tabs but a complete exit
• restart the browser, go to Google News and it should be showing the country that you have selected.

Good luck - hopefully now Google will present the news from the correct country after that fix.

Catherine Forsythe

Mozilla Reacts to Google’s Chrome

Mozilla will be one of the most interested observers of Google’s Chrome browser. The relationship that Mozilla and its Firefox browser have with Google is a major income source:

“… In return for setting Google as the default search engine on Firefox, Google pays Mozilla a substantial sum - in 2006 the total amounted to around $57 million, or 85% of the company’s total revenue. The deal was originally going to expire in 2006, but was later extended to 2008 and will now run through 2011.”

link: Mozilla Extends Lucrative Deal With Google For 3 Years

On the surface, Mozilla Corporation is welcoming the competition. However, the launch of the Chrome browser is fuelling speculation that Mozilla and its Firefox browser are now prime candidates for take over bids. The browser wars continue, with Mozilla closely watching its revenue stream.

Catherine Forsythe

Google Introduces an Open Source Browser Project: Chrome

Google has become part of the browser wars. It is developing Google Chrome:

“Word surfaced Monday on Google Blogoscoped about a Web “comic book” that introduces Google Chrome, the search giant’s open-source browser project. The comic was created by Scott McCloud, and although not officially announced by Google, it does name several Google developers…”

link: Google ’starting from scratch’ with own browser, Chrome

With Google’s entry into this sector, it is bound to push innovation. Google will apply considerable resources to this, as the advertising gains would be enormous. At the moment, Firefox, for example, profits from Google advertising revenue.

And, undoubtedly, many are hoping that Google can present a browser that is a bit kinder on the computer resources.

Catherine Forsythe

Opera as a File Browser

The Opera browser has small function that does not receive much mention. It is the one in which Opera can function as a file browser. If you are viewing this page in Opera, go to the address bar and type: “C:” (without the quotation marks).

Thanks to Kyle for letting me look over his shoulder.

Catherine

Opera Tweaks for Speed

The Opera browser is fast. I find that it is faster than Firefox and Internet Explorer. There are performance tweaks that makes Opera even faster. At least that is what I have found, on both my desktop and my laptop. Here are the changes that you might want to try:

where the URL of a site appears in the address bar type: opera:config

this opens the Preferences Editor

go to Performance and click

change Max Connections Server to: 16

change Max Connections Total to: 64

change Network Buffer Size to: 32

Save

Exit Opera and restart the browser

Of course, the usual disclaimers apply. However, to the right of where the changes were made, there is a button to restore each setting back to the Default. With the changes, the speed at which Opera works should be noticeably faster.

Catherine Forsythe

Browser Risks: Not Updating

It is not a difficult security measure and it takes only a few minutes. However, an astonishing number of people online do not update their browser:

“Almost half the online population is at risk because users have not installed security updates to their browsers, says a study.

The Swiss Institute of Technology, Google and IBM conducted the study and found 600 million users had not updated their browsers.”

link: Online risk due to browser flaws

Not patching is not only a security risk for oneself. It aids hackers in propagating security issues onto others online. It is just irresponsible behaviour which just gives hackers the advantage by a staggering number.

Catherine Forsythe

Opera Fixes A Security Flaw

Opera has released an upgraded version: 9.51. This version addresses security and stability issues:

link: Opera Release Notes

link: Opera

With this patch, Opera will require that the browser be shut down and then the download will be installed. The restart of the browser may not take the user back to the exact pages that were opened previously. Therefore, take note of where you are, prior to closing and installing this download.

For those who haven’t tried Opera, it is well worth a trial. Personally, comparing IE 7, the latest Firefox and Opera, I find that Opera is the fastest and it is the least demanding on the computer resources - at least for my desktop and laptop.

Catherine Forsythe

Troubles With Firefox Add-Ons

While Firefox 3 is making headlines with the number of downloads and the technical writers are singing the praises of the newer, better, shinier browser, Firefox 3 is annoying me. The simple reason is that some of the add-ons, which I have come to depend upon, do not work. For me, that drawback is major. It disrupts work and concentration.

Firefox could compile a list easily. It could list all the add-on that would not work with the new browser. This list could be constantly revised as developers updated their work and make their particular add-on compatible with the new version. Certainly, the developers of the most popular add-ons will update soon and have their extensions work with the new version of Firefox. Until then, for some of us, it is just a load of muttering about how we “should have waited… should have waited… should have waited”.

Catherine Forsythe