Mozilla-based browsers expose people's Web surfing data

Laz

1
Just read this at :- /http://www.pcflank.com/news170902.htm
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Mozilla-based browsers expose people's Web surfing data
September 17, 2002

Netscape and other Web browsers based on the Mozilla development project contain a flaw that exposes people's Web surfing data, according to a security alert posted on Bugtraq mailing list.

The flaw reveals the URL of the page a user is viewing to the Web server of the site last visited. This allows a Web server to track where people go next after they leave the site, regardless of whether the URL is entered manually or via a bookmark.

Reportedly the bug is present in Mozilla 0.9x, 1.0, 1.0.1, 1.1 and 1.2 alpha. It also appears in browsers based on Mozilla's technology, including Netscape 6.x and 7; Galeon 1.2.x and Chimera 0.5.

The problem lies with a component called "onunload," Sven Neuhaus a researcher who discovered the bug, said.

To fix the hole manually users should switch off JavaScript. In addition to disabling JavaScript, users can avoid the bug by creating a file "user.js" in the profile folder (the one with the pref.js file) and put the following line in the file: user_pref("capability.policy.default.Window.onunload", "noAccess"); This stops the "onunload" handler from being activated.

Mozilla.org, the open source browser project initiated by Netscape Communications (now part of AOL Time Warner) to encourage volunteer interest in its browser technology.
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Woops! :eek:

Still, one bug compared to how many serious security issues with IE????? :p
 
Read this on Reuters service. I think this is a serious bug, really. But I would add that, IMHO, Mozilla 1.1 is still the best browser available. And I'm sure the community of codewriters that develop this gem will fix this bug very soon.
Just my opinion, of course.
 

N.B.

1
Staff member
hmmz ..
People, beside all the rumours ...
You can check from which site you came from, the http referer, that is a normal function for a browser. to send the webserver the previous site in the adress bar ..
our antileech script at the main uses this method as well.
I thought sending the leaving site is a "normal" function as welll ..
it is somehow privacy stuff, but the site before you visited as well .. so ... hell ...
 
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