Better Safe Than Sorry

Opera 9.62 released

The latest version of the safest browser around has been released. You are advised to download and install to patch two security holes that could be used for, among other things, cross-scripting attacks. It is available here: http://www.opera.com/download/

Opera Upgraded to 9.60

Time time to visit http://www.opera.com and download the latest and greatest version 9.60 of the most secure browser.

RealPlayer Exploit

User of Internet Explorer under Windows are vulnerable to drive-by downloads simply by visiting an evil Web page. As usual, it is an unknown and unpatched ActiveX component that is causing the problem. Note that both Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express clients are also at risk. Best practices? Uninstall RealPlayer, use an alternative browser such as Firefox or Opera and use another email client such as Thunderbird or Penelope. Those who just can't part with RealPlayer should visit http://service.real.com/realplayer/security/en/ and (when available) download and install the patch. Ryan Naraine over at ZDNet.com has a great write up with info and fixes.

Opera 9.21 Released

It's fast, it's secure, it's got widgets and it seems to play any and all media files without choking right out the box - no fiddling with file associations, etc. - nope, just works. Check out the list of features here: http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/

Google: 1 in 10 Websites Unsafe

Especially if you use Internet Explorer as opposed to Firefox or Opera. The chance of being nailed by a "drive-by download" is almost non-existent when using any browser other than Internet Explorer. Do yourself a favour and try a safer alternative.

Time to upgrade Opera to 9.10

A recent security hole in any version of Opera prior to version 9.10 should spur you slowpokes into upgrading. If you haven't tried Opera browser you should. Opera is the most secure browser of the big three (Internet Explorer & Mozilla Firefox being the other two) running under Windows. Other features include Opera Voice (voice commands for the browser), & Widgets (mini displays of info you choose) and BitTorrent (ask your teenagers...!). Try it - love it or hate it, there is always Firefox ;-)

Opera 9 (Beta) Released

Opera 9 (Beta) is available for you early adopters. It has increased support for .torrent files and Widgets.

Opera 8.54 Available

Opera 8.54 has been released. This version patches a buffer overflow problem and should be downloaded.

Phishing with Google Desktop & Internet Explorer 6

If you use Google Desktop and Internet Explorer 6 you run the risk of exposing information on your PC to evil web site operators. The details are here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/03/google_desktop_vuln/. The solution? The usual - use Firefox or Opera ;-)

Opera 8.51 Released

The latest version of Opera, Version 8.51, which patches a nasty security hole and should be downloaded, is available here: http://www.opera.com/download/.

The why's and where for's are here: http://www.opera.com/support/search/supsearch.dml?index=818.

Opera Now Free

Those sneaky Norwegians have been doing well enough that the only thing left to do with the excellent Opera browser was to gve it away! I suggest you download it from <http://www.opera.com/download/> and compare it to the latest relases of Firefox and Internet Explorer. I suspect more than a few of you will appreciate its features while loving its security.

Firefox Vulnerability Reported

Firefox appears to have a problem handling URLs that contain a certain character in the domain name. This can be exploited to cause a buffer overflow. This results in a possible compromised system. The only solution thus far is to "avoid untrustworthy sites". Uh-huh. You may want to switch to your install of Opera until the patch is released. What, you don't use Opera? You've never even tried it? Oh, c'mon, what are ya new? Get it at http://www.opera.com.

Opera 10th Anniversary

Opera browser is ten years old and still geting better. I like it so much I two paid versions: one on my PC and one on my phone. See what the fuss is about and for a (likely) limited time you can obtain a free registration code for your Opera which removes the advertising banner. The party is here.

Rogers Yahoo Software Centre

I received an email from my ISP, Rogers.com, letting me know about a new bundle of security applications that are free for subscribers. So far so good. I launch the URL and am taken to the sign-in page and finally to the welcome page, where the whole process screeches to a halt because I am using Firefox and not Internet Explorer. Not supported. You must upgrade to IE 6.

Not bloody likely am I downgrading. I use Firefox and Opera, thanks.

So, I decide to at least fire up my IE 6 (oh, yes, I have it for just these wonderous occasions) and see what Rogers-Yahoo is offering for security.

None of my business it appears! Oh, you get anti-spyware, anti pop-ups, etc but it does not say whose software. I spend my time educatng people to check that what they download is legit and not spyware or virus filled and here my own ISP is keeping its clients in the dark.

Finally, the (limited) info explains that, "As part of the installation process, we will need to check your computer to determine what Rogers Yahoo! software is currently installed."

My goodness, I don't like the sound of that. Do you suppose they may actually be checking to see if the applications on the CD they insist you install upon joining Rogers is still there?

Good intentions badly carried out.

Opera 8.01 Download Dialog Spoofing Vulnerability

The good folks at Secunia are reporting a "moderately critical" security alert for Opera.

Successful exploitation may result in users being tricked into executing a malicious file via the download dialog, but requires that the "Arial Unicode MS" font (ARIALUNI.TTF) has been installed on the system.

The solution is to upgrade to Opera 8.02 - it is available here.

Upgrade Your Opera to Version 8.01

Opera 8 Released

Opera 8 (Beta 2) Fixes IDN Spoofing

No More Internet for Them

Internet Explorer Flaw Now 'Extremely Critical"

The 10 Immutable Laws of Security