Recently, Mozilla released Firefox 4.0, the latest version of the popular web browser. The much-awaited launch of Firefox 4.0 comes a week after the release of Internet Explorer 9. The new browser is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X and Linux. The company has made improvements in the JavaScript engine to make the latest browser faster than the earlier releases. The new Sync option enables users to connect the desktop and mobile Firefox browsers and sync bookmarks, passwords, open tabs and browsing history. The Switch-to-tab option redirects the user to an existing tab if users type the same web address on a new tab. The latest version comes with crash protection, which allows users to continue their work on other tabs, even if there is a crash in plug-ins such as Flash Player, QuickTime or Silverlight. The latest version aided with layers-based graphics system enables faster graphics acceleration. WebGL technology facilitates 3D graphics on the new version of the browser. Firefox 4.0 brings new features to improve user interface.
Developers are under constant pressure to design new products with improved and innovative features. Internet users have wide choice, and they would choose the browser, which enhances their experience. Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox are the most popular web browsers. According to Sophos, Firefox currently enjoys 22% of the web browser market share. There is tremendous competition among the three browsers to acquire greater market share. IT professionals and software developers are required to regularly upgrade their skills sets to meet the growing demands. Online university degree and distance learning programs could help the professionals in improving their technical skill sets.
The rising instances of cybercrime have made IT security the top priority for individuals and businesses. Organizations are hiring professionals qualified in programs such as masters of security science, penetration testing and secured programming to improve the defenses of the IT infrastructure. Firefox 4.0 comes with improved security features. The instant website ID icon allows users to verify the authenticity of the website. The content security policy saves the users from cross-site scripting attacks by providing a mechanism for the sites to explicitly communicate to the browser, which content is legitimate. As such, the browser will display only legitimate content to the user. The latest version allows Windows 7 users to enforce the parental controls listed on the operating system. Firefox 4.0 checks for secure connection before installing and updating add-ons as well as third party software. The Anti-malware feature of the browser detects attack sites and warns the users against accessing those sites. The Anti-phishing feature prevents users from visiting sites masquerading as legitimate sites. The Do Not Track feature of Firefox 4 prevents the user from behavioral tracking by websites.
To derive maximum benefit from new technologies and improve their Internet experience, users must adhere to the security guidelines, security updates, patches and software updates. Online degree programs, online tutorials and e-learning programs could help employees and individual users in understanding cyber threats and adhering to safe computing practices.
