Are you using the latest web browser?
Friday, October 31, 2008
The researchers' paper, entitled "Understanding the Web Browser Threat", shows that as of June 2008,
only 59.1% percent of Internet users worldwide use the latest major version of their preferred web browser.
Firefox users are the most attentive: 92.2% of them surfed with Firefox 2, the latest major version before the recently released 3.0.
Only 52.5% of Microsoft Internet Explorer users have updated to version 7, which is the most secure according to multiple publicly-cited Microsoft experts
(among them Sandi Hardmeier). The study revealed that 637 million Internet users worldwide who use web browsers are either not running the latest version of their preferred browser or have not installed the latest patches. These users are vulnerable to exploitation due to their web browser's "built-in" vulnerabilities and the lack of more recent security mechanisms such as improved phishing protection.Neglected security patchesOver the past 18 months, the study also shows, a maximum of 83.3% of Firefox users were using the latest major version of the web browser and also had all current patches installed (i.e. latest minor version).
Only 56.1% and 47.6% of Opera and Internet Explorer users, respectively, were similarly utilizing fully-patched web browsers. Apple users are no better: since the public release of Safari 3, only 65.3% of users operate the latest Safari version.
Having users migrate faster to the latest browser version would not only increase security but also make the lives of webmasters easier, as they would need to test and optimize websites for fewer older versions of web browsers.
Source: Google Online Security Blog
Labels: Security
