Mozilla Pulls Firefox 16 for Security Reasons
Update: Firefox 16.0.1 that fixes the security problem described below has been released. Update or get this latest version to stay protected. Windows users can get the latest Firefox version right here on FindMySoft.
The Mozilla Foundation announced that it uncovered a security problem with the recently released Firefox 16. Consequently version 16 has been pulled while Mozilla is working on a fix.
As a diehard Firefox fan, I immediately updated my browser once I found out that Mozilla rolled out Firefox 16. Turns out that I should have waited, because Firefox 16 is plagued by a security problem described by Michael Coates, Director of Security Assurance, as follows:
“The vulnerability could allow a malicious site to potentially determine which websites users have visited and have access to the URL or URL parameters. At this time we have no indication that this vulnerability is currently being exploited in the wild.”
Once Mozilla uncovered that Firefox 16 is affected by the vulnerability presented above, it removed it from the current installer page. A fix is in the works and is expected to be released today; Firefox users will be automatically updated once the fix is released.
If you already upgraded to Firefox 16.0, you can downgrade to the previous version, 15.0.1, which is not affected by this issue. Alternatively, you can just wait for 16.0.1 to be released. As Michael Coates said above, this vulnerability is not being exploited in the wild and a fix will be released very soon. Until it is rolled out, instead of using Firefox on your desktop computer, you can just use Firefox for Android which has already been updated to version 16.0.1.
Speaking about Firefox for Android, version 16 introduces a new Reader Mode that makes it easier to view, read and share articles and stories on your smartphone or tablet. You can read online content in an enjoyable, clutter and ad-free environment. You can activate the new Reader Mode by tapping the book icon next to a website’s URL.
The Mozilla Foundation announced that it uncovered a security problem with the recently released Firefox 16. Consequently version 16 has been pulled while Mozilla is working on a fix.
As a diehard Firefox fan, I immediately updated my browser once I found out that Mozilla rolled out Firefox 16. Turns out that I should have waited, because Firefox 16 is plagued by a security problem described by Michael Coates, Director of Security Assurance, as follows:
“The vulnerability could allow a malicious site to potentially determine which websites users have visited and have access to the URL or URL parameters. At this time we have no indication that this vulnerability is currently being exploited in the wild.”
Once Mozilla uncovered that Firefox 16 is affected by the vulnerability presented above, it removed it from the current installer page. A fix is in the works and is expected to be released today; Firefox users will be automatically updated once the fix is released.
If you already upgraded to Firefox 16.0, you can downgrade to the previous version, 15.0.1, which is not affected by this issue. Alternatively, you can just wait for 16.0.1 to be released. As Michael Coates said above, this vulnerability is not being exploited in the wild and a fix will be released very soon. Until it is rolled out, instead of using Firefox on your desktop computer, you can just use Firefox for Android which has already been updated to version 16.0.1.
Speaking about Firefox for Android, version 16 introduces a new Reader Mode that makes it easier to view, read and share articles and stories on your smartphone or tablet. You can read online content in an enjoyable, clutter and ad-free environment. You can activate the new Reader Mode by tapping the book icon next to a website’s URL.
