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Firefox 3.0 may block malicious downloads

Mozilla Corp. is considering adding a tool to Firefox 3.0 that would automatically block Web sites thought to harbor malicious downloads

The next major update to Firefox may see a tool that would automatically block Web sites thought to harbor malicious downloads.

Though the security chief of Mozilla Corp. was not forthcoming on the issue, there are numerous details to be found on a blog by a Firefox designer and in a back-and-forth discussion of the feature in Bugzilla, the management system that Mozilla uses to track changes in its software.

“Similar to how Firefox 2 blocks Web sites that are potentially going to try to steal your personal information, Firefox 3 will block Web sites that we believe are going to try to install malicious programs on your computer,” said Alex Faaborg, a user experience designer in a blog entry last week.

If the security tool makes it into Firefox 3.0's final build, Mozilla will rely on long-time partner Google to provide the blocking blacklists. Google already does that for Firefox 2.0's anti-phishing feature, which is powered by the search giant's open-source “Safe Browsing” code. Mozilla's developers have until mid-July to add the feature to Firefox 3.0. According to its development schedule, the browser will be feature-frozen for Beta 1 on July 17.

[ Via computerworld ]