| If you are surfing the web through a browser that isn't | | | | 52.5 percent of the users surfing the web with Internet |
| up to date then you fall under the pool of those 40% | | | | Explorer were using IE7. In spite of Microsoft's |
| internet surfers who are more prone to malicious | | | | repeated and emphatic pleas to upgrade, 47.5 % IE |
| attack. Almost 59% people use the latest version of | | | | users were still presumably using IE6. Firefox users |
| their internet browsers and they are safer compared | | | | were considered the best in upgrading, with 92.2 |
| to the above mentioned 40%. The numbers are | | | | percent of Firefox users now using version 2 (Firefox |
| disturbingly high for anyone working in IT security. | | | | 3.0 was not taken into account since the data |
| These figures are revealed as the result of a | | | | gathered was between January 2007 and June 2008). |
| comprehensive study conducted by researchers at | | | | 90.1 % of Opera users were using Opera 9 while 70.2 |
| The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Google and | | | | % of all Safari users currently running Safari 3. |
| IBM Internet Security Services. The researchers | | | | Threats and recommendations |
| performed their analysis using Google's database of | | | | Web browsers are considered a weak link in the IT |
| user information. The data between January 2007 and | | | | security chain. It becomes easy for hackers to gain |
| June 2008 was gathered for the analysis. | | | | control of a personal computer due to the software |
| It was found during the research that although | | | | vulnerabilities. In the cases of hacking, hackers can |
| software vendors provide patches for security | | | | perform malicious acts such as stealing personal data |
| problems, users take days, weeks or months for | | | | or turning PCs into spam-spewing drones. |
| updating their applications. However it was concluded | | | | The group suggested that auto-updates are a very |
| that it's not solely the fault of users since the vendors | | | | good thing, and recommended that the feature be |
| haven't exactly made patching easy. Mozilla's Firefox | | | | included in all browsers. The study recommended that |
| was declared the best due to its auto-update feature, | | | | corporate businesses should adopt URL Filters, or |
| which tells users about the availability of a new patch | | | | filters designed to prevent company employees from |
| and offers a one-click way to upgrade. According to | | | | even touching websites carrying malicious content. |
| the study, most Firefox users are up to date within | | | | One interesting recommendation is that the software |
| three days. The updating features and installation | | | | industry follow the same type of labeling system as |
| wasn't found quick and easy for other browsers, such | | | | used by the food industry. If adopted, web browsers |
| as Opera and Safari. | | | | would be dated with a "Best before" label, and would |
| Who stays where? | | | | automatically flag the user when the browser "expired. |
| IE7 is the oldest browser taken in the study but only | | | | |