March 22, 2005, 9:41 AM — In the last six months, Microsoft has lost a significant percentage of the browser market, with users switching primarily to Mozilla's Firefox. A new security study suggests that, while there may be good reasons to switch web browsers, browsers like Mozilla and Firefox have their own risks.
Symantec's recent Internet Security Threat Report compares the number and severity of vulnerabilities among various browsers. Their finding? That "as security-conscious users have migrated away from Internet Explorer, attackers have followed suit."
The report looks at vulnerabilities between July 1st and December 31st, 2004. During this time, there were 13 vulnerabilities documented that affected Microsoft Internet Explorer, while there were 21 vulnerabilities affecting each of the Mozilla browsers. Six vulnerabilities were reported in Opera.
Users wanting a browser with an unblemished security record may have to switch platforms; no vulnerabilities were cited for Apple's Safari browser.
Mozilla Browsers Have More Bugs; IE's More Dangerous
While Mozilla's security problems seem to be growing, the report still makes special note of Microsoft's security vulnerabilities: "Though the share of vulnerabilities affecting the Mozilla browsers has increased, Microsoft Internet Explorer still has a greater proportion of high-severity vulnerabilities. Of the 13 vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer documented by Symantec this period, nine were considered high severity." In comparison, seven vulnerabilities affecting Firefox were highly severe.
While vulnerabilities have been discovered in IE's competitors, few if any credible reports of attacks against them have been reported. The report notes, "It remains to be seen whether these browsers will live up to the expectations that many have for them."
Summary
The rise in vulnerabilities in alternate browsers suggests that they may have benefited from "security through obscurity". While IE alternates currently appear to be much safer, this may change, as they become more attractive targets.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Highlights Rise In Threats To Confidential Information
