Mozilla Foundation rolls out second security update for Firefox browser
{{date|March 26, 2005}}

The [[:w:Mozilla Foundation|Mozilla Foundation]] released the second major security update this week for their flagship browser [[:w:Firefox|Firefox]]. The fix patches a serious flaw in the way Firefox handles animated GIF image files. Firefox browsers infected by malicious code could experience a buffer overflow, temporarily locking up or "freezing" a user's computer, or even executing arbitrary code which could take over a user's computer.

The flaw was discovered and reported by ''Internet Security Systems, Inc''. The upgrade was the second major security fix in less than a month for the browser, which has grown in popularity to ten percent of the browser market in the [[w:United States|United States]]. 

Although there were no known exploits of the bug, Chris Hoffman, director of engineering at Mozilla, told reporters, "[because] Mozilla is committed to delivering the most secure product possible, we decided to quickly issue an update to patch the bug."

The Mozilla Foundation did not offer any details about the issue of vulnerability, but a second major security overhaul in such a short time underscores challenges faced by the nonprofit foundation as it goes head-to-head with the market leading [[:w:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]] browser by Microsoft.

The new release, Firefox version 1.0.2, "illustrates the dedication of the strong community of developers working on the product," according to Hoffman. "...we’re able to turn around patches much faster than a traditional corporation," he added.
 
Users can download the update at no charge, and can find additional information at the [http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/releases/1.0.2.html Mozilla website.]

==See also==
*{{Wikinews|title=New version of Firefox web browser released
|date=March 1, 2005}}

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://newsvac.newsforge.com/newsvac/05/03/26/1258233.shtml
|title=Firefox gets a GIF-related buffer overflow fix
|author=
|pub=NewsForge
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1770010,00.asp
|title=Firefox Gets Major Security Makeover
|author=Ryan Naraine
|pub=eWeek
|date=February 24, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/45792/45792.html
|title=Mozilla: We're More Secure Than IE
|author=Paul Thurrott
|pub=WindowsITPro
|date=March 25, 2005}}

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[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Mozilla]]
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:Mozilla Firefox]]
The Mozilla Foundation released the second major security update this week for their flagship browser Firefox. The fix patches a serious flaw in the way Firefox handles animated GIF image files. Firefox browsers infected by malicious code could experience a buffer overflow, temporarily locking up or "freezing" a user's computer, or even executing arbitrary code which could take over a user's computer.

The flaw was discovered and reported by Internet Security Systems, Inc. The upgrade was the second major security fix in less than a month for the browser, which has grown in popularity to ten percent of the browser market in the United States. 

Although there were no known exploits of the bug, Chris Hoffman, director of engineering at Mozilla, told reporters, "because Mozilla is committed to delivering the most secure product possible, we decided to quickly issue an update to patch the bug."

The Mozilla Foundation did not offer any details about the issue of vulnerability, but a second major security overhaul in such a short time underscores challenges faced by the nonprofit foundation as it goes head-to-head with the market leading Internet Explorer browser by Microsoft.

The new release, Firefox version 1.0.2, "illustrates the dedication of the strong community of developers working on the product," according to Hoffman. "...we’re able to turn around patches much faster than a traditional corporation," he added.
 
Users can download the update at no charge, and can find additional information at the  Mozilla website.

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Internet Science and technology Economy and business Mozilla Published Mozilla Firefox