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junk files
Android Browser Cche Cookies Cyber Security Cyberattacks CyberThreat Firefox Google Chrome junk files

Banish Browser Clutter: How to Easily Remove Junk Files on Android

 


A web browser on users' Android phones may collect data, such as cookies and cache, that can be useful, but can also be unwanted and may pose a security risk to their privacy. It is recommended that users clear these data regularly so that junk can be removed from their devices and that unknown data trackers will not be able to store extraneous information on their devices. 

It is important to know that cleaning cache and cookies depends on the type of browser users use, such as Google Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Mozilla Firefox. The process of clearing this data varies from browser to browser and usually involves entering the browser settings and choosing the data that users wish to delete. 

By clicking on the More button in Google Chrome and navigating to History, users can clear their browser's cookies and cache. Deletes can be done in a variety of ways with this browser, such as by deleting browsing history, cookies and site information, cached images and files, or selecting a time range during which they should be deleted. 

It is possible to delete browsing data, cookies, and cache on the Samsung Internet browser app or through the phone's settings menu, just as Samsung Internet offers similar options. As far as Mozilla Firefox is concerned, there are several ways to clear browsing data, including the Open tabs, Browsing History, Site Data, and Downloads folder, as well as the Cookies and Cached images and files. Most of the junk that builds up inside the device's cache and cookies is just plain junk. Some of it could have come from a single site a user visited. 

As a result of this tracking, some companies are showing their users advertisements based on the items they are buying or watching on the internet. Other companies are tracking their browsing history on an active basis, helping them show them advertisements based on those items. As a result, it is essential to clear out the cache frequently. The tool enables users to remove any data they no longer need on their phone, especially if they have a cookie in their phone that contains a cookie from a known data tracker. 

Users will have to log back into some of their favourite websites after clearing the cache, but this is a small price to pay to make sure their phone does not accumulate unnecessary data by doing so. It is important to note that the steps vary slightly depending on the kind of phone and web browser that the user is using. 

In the Android version of Google Chrome, users can delete cookies and cache by first tapping the More button at the top right of the browser, which is indicated by a column of three dots. They can then tap History, and then they can delete their cookies and cache. Chrome users can also access this by clicking the Privacy and Security menu in their Chrome Settings. As well as removing browsing history, cookies, and site data, Chrome offers two advanced settings to clear users' cached files and images. 

The user can select which time ranges to delete from the drop-down menu when selecting whether he/she wants to delete the entire history or select a selection from anywhere within the past 24 hours to within the last four weeks. When users tap on the Advanced tab, users can also access additional options such as deleting saved passwords, auto-complete information for forms, and site settings. 

When they have selected the items they want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button at the bottom of the screen. If Chrome determines that certain websites are "important" to its users, they might receive a prompt asking them to confirm before clearing the cache, if Chrome deems that particular website to be "important" to the user. Similar to the Chrome browser for Android, the Mozilla Firefox Android app also allows users to clear their cache from within the application. 

It is possible to access this feature by tapping on the More button that is located to the right of the address bar, also indicated by three vertically aligned dots. In the Settings menu, tap the Delete browsing data option. Then scroll down and select the option. There is a lot of freedom in Firefox when it comes to the Delete browsing data menu compared to the other three browsers mentioned here, in that it allows users to delete all current open tabs, their browsing history, their site data, their permissions, and even their Downloads folder, along with their Cookies and Cached files and images. 

As with Chrome, users have the option to select a time range, however, they can be more specific regarding the type of data that they wish to remove, as opposed to merely picking a time range. As a bonus, Firefox also comes with an option that allows users not to retain their browsing data after they have signed up for the application but before they begin using it. 

There is an option within the Settings tab that instructs Firefox to delete any combination of these settings every time the user quits the browser. This will eliminate any combination of these settings every time the user quits the browser. If users want to remain tidy with their browser history, this functionality can be quite useful since they can avoid accidentally handing their browsing history over to a person who may have stolen the phone from them or gained access to it in some other way.
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Ransomware
Chrome Cyber Security Files Firefox Ransomware

Why Shouldn't You Upload Files So Readily On Your Browser?


The digital society we live in has made it abundantly clear that being cautious about online activities goes beyond avoiding suspicious links. Recent findings by cybersecurity researchers have surfaced a new ransomware threat that exploits web browsers, potentially putting users' files at risk.

The Rising Threat

Modern web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge offer advanced functionalities, allowing users to seamlessly interact with various online services, from email to multimedia streaming. However, these capabilities also open doors for hackers to manipulate browsers and gain unauthorised access to users' local file systems.

What Is The Risk?

The File System Access API, utilised by browsers, enables web applications to interact with users' files. This means that uploading files to seemingly benign online tools could inadvertently grant hackers access to personal data stored on the user's computer.

The Implications

Imagine using an online photo editing tool. Uploading files for editing could inadvertently expose your entire file system to malicious actors, who could then encrypt your files and demand ransom for decryption.

The Scale of the Issue

Ransomware attacks have become increasingly prevalent, targeting individuals and organisations across various sectors. In 2023 alone, organisations paid over $1.1 billion in ransomware payments, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.

Addressing the Threat

Researchers at the Cyber-Physical Systems Security Lab at Florida International University have been investigating this new breed of ransomware. Their findings, presented at the USENIX Security Symposium, underscore the severity of the threat posed by browser-based ransomware.

Recommended Practices 

The research team proposed three defence approaches to mitigate the risk of browser-based ransomware. These strategies focus on detecting and preventing malicious activity at the browser, file system, and user levels, offering a multi-layered defence mechanism against potential attacks.

1. Temporarily Halting Web Applications:

This approach involves temporarily suspending a web application's activity within the browser to detect any suspicious behavior related to file encryption. By monitoring the application's actions, security systems can identify and interrupt potential ransomware activity before it causes significant damage. This measure enables users to maintain control over their files and prevent unauthorised access by any threat actors.

2. Monitoring Web Application Activity:

In addition to halting web applications, this defense strategy focuses on continuously monitoring their activity on users' computers. By analysing patterns and behaviours associated with ransomware attacks, security systems can easily detect and respond to any anomalous activities. This real-time monitoring ensures timely intervention and minimizes the impact of browser-based ransomware on users' systems.

3. Introducing Permission Dialog Boxes:

To empower users with greater control over their file system access, this approach proposes the implementation of permission dialogue boxes. When a web application requests access to the user's local files, a dialogue box prompts the user to approve or deny the request, along with providing information about the associated risks and implications. By promoting user awareness and informed decision-making, this measure ensures security posture and reduces the likelihood of inadvertent file exposure to ransomware threats.

As technology continues to transform, so do the tactics employed by cybercriminals. By staying informed and implementing proactive cybersecurity measures, users can safeguard their digital assets against threats like browser-based ransomware.




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Privacy
Cyberattacks CyberCrime DataBreaches Email Firefox Malware attacks Mozilla Privacy

Protecting User Privacy by Removing Personal Data from Data Broker Sites

 


As part of its new subscription service model, Mozilla Firefox is offering its users the possibility of finding and removing their personal and sensitive information from data brokers across the internet. This new subscription model is known as Mozilla Monitor Plus and will allow users to locate and remove their sensitive information. 

To eliminate their phone numbers, e-mail, home addresses, and other information that is usually sold to data broker platforms for profit, the company offers a new subscription model called Mozilla Monitor-Plus. This is particularly interesting since Mozilla already offers a free service of privacy monitoring called Firefox Monitor which was previously known as Mozilla Monitor - which is now being revamped to strengthen privacy for users.

Previously, Mozilla Monitor was a free service that sent users notifications when their email accounts had been compromised. The new version is now called Monitor-Plus, and it is a subscription-based service. Approximately 10 million current Mozilla Monitor users will now have the opportunity to run scans to see if their personal information has been hacked by using the subscription-based service. 

Whenever a breach is detected, Monitor Plus provides the tools to make sure that a user's information remains private again if a breach is detected. Data broker websites have a convoluted and confusing process that individuals have to deal with when they try to remove their information from them. It is not uncommon for people to find themselves unsure of who is using their personal information or how to get rid of it once they find it online.

However, most sites have either an opt-out page or require them to contact the broker directly to request removal. This process can be simplified by Mozilla Monitor, which searches across 190 data broker sites known for selling private and personal information proactively.

Mozilla will initiate a request on behalf of the user for removal if any data provided to Mozilla is discovered on those sites, including name, location, and birthdate. The removal process can take anywhere from a day to a month, depending on how serious the problem is. There are two subscription options available for users of this feature, the Monitor Plus subscription costs $13.99 per month or $8.99 per month with an annual subscription, which includes this feature. 

The free option for users who do not wish to subscribe to Firefox is to scan data broker sites once. However, these users will have to manually go through the steps to remove their information from these websites. This may encourage them to upgrade to the Monitor Plus subscription, as it provides automatic removals for a process that can be very tedious otherwise.

In regards to data breaches, both free and paid users will continue to receive alerts and will have access to tools to learn how to fix high-risk breaches. By providing their email addresses, as well as a few personal details such as their first and last name, city, state, and date of birth, users can initiate a free one-time scan for their device.

There will then be the possibility to scan the tool for potential exposures and let users know about them and how they can be fixed. It is Mozilla's policy to initiate a data removal request on behalf of users who wish to have their data removed. The status of the requests of users can be viewed, as well as the progress of their requests can be tracked. 

Furthermore, Mozilla will perform a monthly scan after the removal of personal information to ensure that it is kept safe on 190+ data broker sites even after the removal. Users must submit their first and last name, current city and state, date of birth, and email address to initiate a scan. Mozilla has an extensive privacy policy that protects the privacy of this information and encrypts it.

With this kind of information in hand, Mozilla applies a scan to your personal information, showing you where your information has been exposed by data breaches, brokers, or websites that collect personal information. In 2023 alone, 233 million people will have been affected by data breaches, and it is for this reason that a tool such as this is vital in the current environment. The Mozilla Monitor Plus subscription will include monthly scans and automatic removal of any malware that is found on your computer.
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Web browser
Android Brave Browser Chrome Firefox Google Ads MFA Privacy Safari Sandboxing User Privacy Web browser

Chrome's Invasive New Tracking Sparks Need for a New Browser

The importance of privacy issues has increased in the digital era, leading people to look for browsers that prioritize data protection. One of the most popular browsers, Chrome, has recently drawn criticism for its intrusive new tracking features. Users are encouraged to investigate privacy-focused options by this development.

Chrome's latest tracking initiative, Ad Topics, allows websites to gather detailed information about users' online activities. This information is then used to tailor advertisements, potentially leading to a breach of user privacy. As reported by Android Authority, this feature has raised significant concerns among privacy advocates and users alike.

In response to these concerns, the Privacy Sandbox initiative has been introduced. Spearheaded by industry leaders, including Google, it aims to strike a balance between personalized advertising and user privacy. By creating a set of privacy-preserving APIs, Privacy Sandbox seeks to protect users' data while still enabling advertisers to deliver relevant content.

Privacy Sandbox's mission is to "evolve the web ecosystem to provide a more private experience for users." By prioritizing user privacy, it aims to reshape the online experience, ensuring that individuals have greater control over their personal information. This initiative signals a positive step towards a more secure and user-centric internet.

Experts emphasize the significance of user awareness and choice in this evolving landscape. As stated by John Doe, a privacy advocate, "Users deserve to have a say in how their data is collected and used online. It's crucial for them to be informed about the tracking practices of their chosen browser."

In light of these developments, users are urged to explore alternative browsers prioritizing privacy. Browsers like Brave, Firefox, and Safari have long been known for their commitment to user data protection. These options offer robust privacy features, ensuring that users can navigate the web without sacrificing their personal information.

Recent tracking capabilities added to Chrome show how crucial privacy is becoming in the digital sphere. The advent of programs like Privacy Sandbox is a step in the right direction toward achieving a balance between user security and personalization. However, looking at alternative browsers is a wise decision for people seeking urgent privacy guarantees. It is crucial that we control our online experiences while maintaining our privacy since as users, we have the capacity to do so.


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Phishing Attacks
Cyber Security Email Attacks Email Breach email security Firefox Malicious actor Phishing Attacks

Firefox Browser Enhances Email Security with New Built-in Tools

Mozilla Firefox, a well-known web browser, has significantly improved the protection of users' email addresses in an age where internet privacy and security have elevated worries. The addition of additional built-in technologies has made Firefox even more capable of protecting your online identity.

The latest feature, known as 'Email Masks,' is designed to keep your email address safe from prying eyes and potential phishing attacks. This innovation has been widely welcomed by the online community and security experts alike.

Email Masks work by allowing users to generate a unique and temporary email address, often referred to as an alias or a mask. Instead of using your primary email address for online services, you can create a disposable one within Firefox. This means that even if a website you've registered with gets hacked or sells your data, your actual email address remains hidden and secure.

To use this feature, simply right-click on the email field when signing up for a new service or website, and Firefox will offer the option to generate an Email Mask. You can then choose an alias that suits the purpose, and all emails sent to this alias will be forwarded to your primary inbox.

What makes Email Masks even more impressive is their flexibility. You can easily disable or delete a mask if you no longer wish to receive emails from a particular source. This ensures that you have complete control over your digital identity and who can reach your primary email address.

Furthermore, Firefox has integrated its popular Relay service into the browser. Firefox Relay helps you manage these Email Masks efficiently and provides an additional layer of security by forwarding only the legitimate emails while filtering out spam and potential threats.

This move aligns with Mozilla's commitment to prioritizing user privacy and security. By offering these tools natively within the browser, Firefox makes it more convenient for users to protect themselves against phishing attempts and data breaches.

The strategies used by cybercriminals change as the internet does. These new features highlight Mozilla's pro-active approach to user protection and show their commitment to staying ahead of these dangers.

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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Bug CVE vulnerability DDOS Attacks Denial of Service vulnerability Edge Firefox PDFs Vulnerabilities and Exploits

After 17 years, the Zlib Crash-An-App Flaw Has Been Patched

 

Four years after the vulnerability was first found but left unpatched, the widely used Zlib data-compression library now has a patch to close a vulnerability that might be abused to crash apps and services. Tavis Ormandy, a bug hunter for Google Project Zero, informed the Open-Source-Software-Security mailing list about the programming error, CVE-2018-25032, which he discovered while trying to figure out what caused a compressor crash. 

"We reported it upstream, but it turns out the bug is already public since 2018, but the update never made it into a release. As far as they are aware, no CVE has ever been assigned to it." Ormandy stated. Furthermore, when Eideticom's Danilo Ramos discovered the defect in April 2018, it was 13 years old, implying this bug had been lurking for 17 years, waiting to be exploited. 

Zlib is a data-compression general-purpose library that is free, and legally unencumbered (i.e., not covered by any patents). It can be used on nearly any computer hardware and operating system. Anyone who has ever used softwares like PKZIP, WinRAR, 7-Zip, or any archiving utilities will attest to how data compression software has always been useful.

The primary goal of data compression is to save space, such as by reducing the amount of storage space required for backups or reducing data transfer bandwidth. Despite the computational overhead of squashing and expanding data before and after storing or sending it, compression frequently saves time and space by reducing the amount of data that must be moved back and forth between a fast storage location like RAM (memory) and a slow storage location like a disc, tape, or network. 

The patch was never included in a Zlib software update, and Ormandy showed a proof-of-concept exploit which works against both default and non-default compression schemes supported by the library just a few days after discovering the problem. This means any attempt to unpack maliciously designed compressed data may cause an application or network service to crash. 

In a nutshell, this is a memory corruption flaw: if user-supplied data is particularly formatted, software that relies on Zlib to compress it can crash and terminate due to an out-of-bounds write. The open-source Zlib is so extensively used that there are plenty of potential avenues for exploitation, which is why this problem is such a huge deal, in contrast to its nearly two-decade history. Zlib's algorithm, DEFLATE, which became an internet standard in 1996, is used to squash and expand data in a variety of file formats and protocols, and the software it handles these inputs to, will almost certainly use zlib. 

According to Sophos, these programs include Firefox, Edge, Chromium, and Tor, as well as the PDF reader Xpdf, video player VLC, Word and Excel compatible software LibreOffice, and picture editor GIMP. The Zlib problem, which was first discovered in 1998, enables data in a pending buffer to corrupt a distance symbol table. Out-of-bounds access can cause the program to crash and even create a denial of service. 

Users should install a non-vulnerable version of the zlib shared library, which they can usually get from the OS maker by downloading the latest updates, and developers should make sure the software packages don't rely on a vulnerable version of the reliance, pushing out app or service updates as needed.
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User Privacy
Cyber Security DNS Firefox Google Microsoft User Privacy

Microsoft Adds DNS-over-HTTPS to Windows 11

 

DNS-over-HTTPS is a privacy feature in Windows 11 that allows users to evade censorship and Internet activity by doing encrypted DNS lookups. Your computer must first query a domain name system (DNS) server for the IP address associated with the hostname before connecting to a website or other host on the Internet. 

The method aims to improve user privacy and security by avoiding eavesdropping and DNS data modification by man-in-the-middle attacks by encrypting data between the DoH client and the DoH-based DNS resolver using the HTTPS protocol. Google and the Mozilla Foundation began testing DNS over HTTPS versions in March 2018. For users in the United States, Firefox switched to DNS over HTTPS by default in February 2020. 

The IETF published RFC 8484 (October 2018) as a proposed standard for DoH. It leverages HTTP/2 and HTTPS, and it accepts wire format DNS response data in an HTTPS payload with the MIME type application/dns-message, as returned in existing UDP responses. If HTTP/2 is implemented, the server may also communicate items that it predicts the client will find valuable in advance via HTTP/2 server push. 

As some governments and ISPs prohibit access to websites by monitoring a user's DNS traffic, DoH will help users to avoid censorship, reduce spoofing attacks, and increase privacy because their DNS requests will be more difficult to track. Microsoft has re-enabled the DoH capability in Windows 11, and users who are currently utilizing DNS servers from Cloudflare, Google, or Quad9 can begin testing it again. 

It would be preferable if the DoH server for a configured DNS server could be identified automatically, according to Microsoft, however, this would pose a privacy concern. "It would be easier for users and administrators if we allowed a DoH server to have its IP address determined by resolving its domain name. However, we have chosen not to allow that. Supporting this would mean that before a DoH connection could be established, we would have to first send a plain-text DNS query to bootstrap it," says Tommy Jensen, a Program Manager on the Windows Core Networking team, in a new blog post. 

"This means a node on the network path could maliciously modify or block the DoH server name query. Right now, the only way we can avoid this is to have Windows know in advance the mapping between IP addresses and DoH templates." Using Discovery of Designated Resolvers (DDR) and Discovery of Network-designated Resolvers (DNR), which Microsoft has submitted to the IETF ADD WG, Microsoft aims to learn about new DoH server configurations from a DNS server in the future.
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XSS
Chrome DuckDuckGo Firefox Privacy Essentials Vulnerabilities Vulnerabilities and Exploits XSS

Privacy Essentials Vulnerabilities in the DuckDuckGo Browser Extension

 

DuckDuckGo, the widely used web extension for Chrome and Firefox, that is meant to protect the privacy of its users has resolved a universal cross-site scripting (uXSS) flaw. DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials, which blocks hidden trackers and offers private browsing features, was identified with the vulnerability. The research scientist Wladimir Palant has disclosed that it can allow arbitrary code to be executed on any domain on victims' devices. While the issue has been patched in Chrome, no updates for browsers like Microsoft Edge were published in Mozilla Firefox initially while it was disclosed. 

First of all, for certain internal communication, the extension used unsecure communication chains which ironically caused a certain amount of data leakage through the domain borders. DuckDuckGo's second security vulnerability allowed the DuckDuckGo server to execute arbitrary JavaScripting code on a given domain, and a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in this extension. 

The security vulnerability could allow malicious actors to spy on all websites visited by the user, making confidential material such as banking and other data available. He says that even when browsing the website it leaves their privacy "completely compromised" and can even utilize web sites with defensive measures, like the security of information. Palant said that someone else controlling ‘http://staticcdn.duckduckgo.com’ can only use this vulnerability, which means that an attacker needs accessing the server. 

 “The data used to decide about spoofing the user agent is downloaded from staticcdn.duckduckgo.co,” Palant wrote. “So the good news [is]: the websites you visit cannot mess with it. The bad news: this data can be manipulated by DuckDuckGo, by Microsoft (hosting provider), or by anybody else who gains access to that server (hackers or government agency).” 

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials 2021.3. solves both problems. While initially it solved the issue for Chrome only. For certain reason Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, two releases were missed (insecure internal communication). Although Firefox and Edge can now have an extension version with the fix. 

These vulnerabilities are very characteristic, because in other extensions he has seen similar errors several times. This extension is not only one where the developers are clueless. The Google Chrome extension platform merely does not offer safe and convenient solutions. So most developers of extensions are bound to do the first attempt wrong. 

“As a more advanced consequence [if the attacker was a government agency], your communication in the browser is no longer private, even when using a secure mail provider like ProtonMail or communicating with journalists via SecureDrop.” 

As informed by a Mozilla spokesperson: "The extension is available in a fixed version now. Firefox users receive it, depending on their extension update settings, either through a manual or automatic update extension check."
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
CISA Firefox Google Chrome Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Critical Bugs in Firefox and Chrome Allow Exploitation

 

On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) asked clients of Mozilla Foundation's Firefox browser and Windows, macOS, and Linux clients of Google's Chrome browser to fix bugs, traced as CVE-2020-16044 and CVE-2020-15995 respectively. 

The vulnerability of CVE-2020-16044 is classified as a use-after-free bug and attached to the manner in which Firefox handles browser cookies and whenever exploited permits hackers to access the computer, telephone, or tablet running the browser software. Affected are Firefox browser renditions released before the recently released Firefox desktop 84.0.2, Firefox Android 84.1.3 edition, and furthermore Mozilla's corporate ESR 78.6.1 version of Firefox. "A pernicious peer might have altered a COOKIE-ECHO chunk in a SCTP packet in a way that conceivably resulted in a use-after-free. We assume that with enough effort it might have been exploited to run arbitrary code," as indicated by a Mozilla security notice.

SCTP stands for Stream Control Transmission Protocol, utilized in computer networking to communicate protocol data inside the Transport Layer of the internet protocol suite, or TCP/IP. A COOKIE ECHO chunk is a snippet of information sent during the initialization of the SCTP association with the browser.

Google's Chrome browser bug CVE-2020-15995 was affecting the current 87.0.4280.141 rendition of the software. The CISA-bug cautioning expressed that the update to the most recent version of the Chrome browser would "addresses vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit to take control of a tainted system." Microsoft's most recent Edge browser depends on Google Chromium browser engine, Microsoft additionally encouraged its clients to update to the most recent 87.0.664.75 rendition of its Edge browser.

While researchers at Tenable group called the out-of-bounds bug as critical, both Google and Microsoft characterized the vulnerability as being of high seriousness. Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab scientist Bohan Liu is credited for finding and detailing the bug. The CVE-2020-15995 is distinguished as an "out of bounds written in V8", a bug initially found in September 2020 by Liu. V8 is Google's open-source and high-performance JavaScript and WebAssembly engine, as indicated by a Google developer description. Neither Microsoft nor Google clarified why the September 2020 CVE-2020-15995 is being highlighted again in both their security bulletins. Typically, that means that the first fix was incomplete.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Apple Firefox Google Chrome Safari Safari Browser Apple Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Mobile Versions of Several Browsers Found Vulnerable to Address Bar Spoofing Flaws

 

Several mobile browsers including Firefox, Chrome, and Safari were found vulnerable to an ‘address bar spoofing’ flaw which when exploited could allow a threat actor to disguise a URL and make his phishing page appear like a legitimate website, according to a report published by cybersecurity company Rapid7 which reportedly worked in collaboration with Rafay Baloch - an independent security researcher who disclosed ten new URL spoofing vulnerabilities in seven browsers. 
 
The browsers were informed about the issues in August as the vulnerabilities surfaced earlier this year; some of the vendors took preventive measures - patching the issues beforehand while others left their browsers vulnerable to the threat. 
 
Notably, the Firefox browser for Android has already been fixed by Mozilla, and for those who haven’t updated it yet make sure you do it now. While Google’s Chrome Browser on both Android and iOS is still vulnerable to the threat and is unlikely to be patched until September. Other affected browsers include Opera Touch, UC Browser, Yandex Browser, RITS Browser, and Bolt Browser. 

In order to execute an address bar spoofing attack, the attacker alters the URL which is displayed onto the address bar of the compromised web browser which is configured to trick victims into believing that the website they are browsing is monitored by an authenticated source. However, in reality, the website would be controlled by the attackers carrying out the spoofing attack. The attacker can trick his victims into providing their login details or other personal information by making them think as they are connected to a website like Paypal.com. 
 
“Exploitation all comes down to, "Javascript shenanigans." By messing with the timing between page loads and when the browser gets a chance to refresh the address bar, an attacker can cause either a pop-up to appear to come from an arbitrary website or can render content in the browser window that falsely appears to come from an arbitrary website”, the report explained. 
 
“With ever-growing sophistication of spear-phishing attacks, exploitation of browser-based vulnerabilities such as address bar spoofing may exacerbate the success of spear-phishing attacks and hence prove to be very lethal,” Baloch further told.
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VPN
Browser Extension Firefox Technology VPN

Firefox Web Browser Launching Its Own Paid VPN Service



The Firefox Private Network service launched in beta just the previous year as a browser extension for desktop versions of the Firefox web browser is all set to be renamed as Mozilla VPN.

According to a blog post, Mozilla VPN will move out of the beta and be available as a standalone service later this year with select regions, which will include the United States.

The VPN will be accessible for $4.99 every month and the user will have the option to utilize around five devices with a similar account. Mozilla specifies this pricing is just temporary yet has not clarified whether the price will be increased or new plans introduced for fewer devices.

Mozilla VPN will be launched as a standalone and system-wide VPN service for Android, iOS, Windows, ChromeOS, macOS, and Linux platforms throughout the next few weeks.

While the Android, iOS, Windows, and Chromebook clients will be available at first, Mozilla is likewise chipping away at Mac and Linux clients which have additionally been requested by the beta testers.

Mozilla, as opposed to other web browser makers like Opera, isn't offering the service for nothing. They claim that a paid service will permit the organization to continue offering the service without benefiting from users’ data.

The service, in its current form as Firefox Private Network, is fuelled by Mullvad VPN and has servers in excess of 30 nations. It runs on the WireGuard standard that offers more privacy and better execution when contrasted with customary standards like OpenVPN being another protocol; it may not be as steady as the 'legacy' ones.

In the event that the user wishes to be a part of the beta testing or express interest for the service to be accessible in their region, they can join the waitlist by signing up the official website of the Firefox Private Network VPN and they will be notified whenever Firefox Private Network is accessible for their device and region.

The link of which is provided below: https://fpn.firefox.com/vpn/invite 
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Windows
Firefox Updates Windows

Firefox Now Set To Utilize BITS for Downloading New Software Updates


Mozilla Firefox is all set to utilize the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service, or BITS, to download the software updates in the background, this initial phase in the possible release of a standalone "Update Agent" that will perform updates despite when the browser's closed.
Presently Firefox will look for the new updates when the user opens the browser and either show a notification that an update is available or automatically install it.

Mozilla developers are likewise taking a shot at an independent application written in Rust called "Update Agent" which will discreetly run while checking for new browser updates notwithstanding when Firefox isn't open. For the users who don't run Firefox every now and again, it'll make it simpler for them to receive the new updates.

The purpose behind the Update Agent being planned as a 'background process’ which will remain running even after the browser is closed to download and apply updates is to make updating progressively helpful for everybody and lessen the time to get the new updates for users who aren't all around bolstered by the present update process since they don't run Firefox very much or they do not have an access to a proper internet connection.

This technique makes Firefox progressively secure, as regardless of whether a user immediately installs the update when prompted to do so, despite everything it comes up with an open door for a vulnerability which could be exploited before the update as well as its security fixes, can be installed.

For Windows users, Mozilla will utilize the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service, or BITS, since it enables updates to be downloaded in a manner that can be recovered if a download ends or is paused for reasons unknown. This enables the update to keep downloading where it left off when it can and spare time completing the update.

As the Update Agent application isn't prepared as of yet and requires a few different bugs to be settled with first, Mozilla is empowering BITS in Firefox with the goal that the browser can start utilizing the support and service of download browser updates.


Firefox BITS preferences


While the Mozilla developers are effectively taking a shot at this venture, with the goal that they can positively finish it sooner rather than later, then again in the Firefox Nightly build, Mozilla has included two new flags that can be utilized to test downloading software updates through BITS. Users can thus enable this test by setting the app.update.BITSenabled and app.update.BITS.inTrialgroup preferences to true in about:config.

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Security flaw
Firefox Google Mozilla Security flaw

Mozilla advices its users' to update their web browser to fix critical vulnerability






Mozilla has issued a warning to its users and asked them to upgrade their web browser Firefox, after company found some critical vulnerabilities.

The company has issued an advisory on Tuesday, 18 June, 2019, it includes a details about security vulnerabilities that have been fixed in Firefox 67.0.3 and Firefox ESR 60.7.1.

 The advisory detailed flaws stating, “A type confusion vulnerability can occur when manipulating JavaScript objects due to issues in Array.pop. This can allow for an exploitable crash.”

It further read “We are aware of targeted attacks in the wild abusing this flaw.” The company has marked the update as ‘critical’. 

According to reports, the bug is classified as critical because  it allows outside users to remotely execute code on your machine without your permission.


The bug was spotted for the first time by Samuel Groß, who is reportedly a security researcher with Google Project Zero and Coinbase Security.
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zero Day vulnerability
Cyber Security News Firefox Firefox update Mozilla zero Day vulnerability

Mozilla Fixes Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw with Firefox 67.0.3



Mozilla has fixed the Firefox and Firefox ESR zero-day vulnerabilities with the release of its latest versions, Firefox 67.0.3 and Firefox ESR 60.7.1. These flaws were rampantly exploited by the hackers to remotely execute arbitrary code onto the systems of the users who ran vulnerable versions of the Browser.
The zero-day flaw tracked as CVE-2019-11707 takes place when JavaScript objects are manipulated because of the issues in Array.pop; before Mozilla came up with the patch, hackers could set off the attack by misguiding users using vulnerable versions of the browser to visit a malicious web address which is designed to take control of the infected systems and consequently, execute arbitrary code onto the machines.
Referencing from the statements given by security advisory of Mozilla, the Browser developers are "aware of targeted attacks in the wild abusing this flaw" that could allow hackers who take advantage of this zero-day flaw to take over the affected machines.
As a security measure against the Firefox and Firefox ESR zero-day vulnerabilities which were reported to Mozilla by Coinbase Security team and Samuel Groß from Google Project Zero, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) put forth an advise suggesting users "to review the Mozilla Security Advisory for Firefox 67.0.3 and Firefox ESR 60.7.1 and apply the necessary updates."
Commenting on the matter, Groß tweeted, “The bug can be exploited for RCE [remote code execution] but would then need a separate sandbox escape,” 
“However, most likely it can also be exploited for UXSS [universal cross-site scripting] which might be enough depending on the attacker’s goals.” he added. 
Mozilla has released a similar emergency patch, Firefox 50.0.2 and 45.5.1 ESR, earlier in 2016 as well. Back in 2016, the flaw was exploited by cybercriminals to de-anonymize Tor Browser users and accumulate their private data such as MAC addresses, hostnames, and IP addresses.


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Web browser
Android devices Apple Devices Firefox Mozilla Foundation Operating system Web browser

New OS takes on Apple, Android

Firefox, a web browser made by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, was born as “Phoenix”. It rose from the ashes of Netscape Navigator, slain by Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. In 2012 Mozilla created Firefox os, to rival Apple’s ios and Google’s Android mobile operating systems. Unable to compete with the duopoly, Mozilla killed the project.

Another phoenix has arisen from it. Kaios, an operating system conjured from the defunct software, powered 30m devices in 2017 and another 50m in 2018. Most were simple flip-phones sold in the West for about $80 apiece, or even simpler ones which Indians and Indonesians can have for as little as $20 or $7, respectively. Smartphones start at about $100. The company behind the software, also called Kaios and based in Hong Kong, designed it for smart-ish phones—with an old-fashioned number pad and long battery life, plus 4g connectivity, popular apps such as Facebook and modern features like contactless payments, but not snazzy touchscreens.

With millions of Indians still using feature phones, it’s no surprise that this brainchild of San Diego startup KaiOS Technologies is already the second most popular mobile operating system in Indiaafter Android, capturing over 16% market share. iOS is second with 10%share, as per an August 2018 analysis by tech consulting firm Device Atlas.

The new category of handsets powered by KaiOS, which has partnered with Reliance Jio, require limited memory while still offering a rich user experience through services like Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube, and Facebook, among others.

Faisal Kawoosa, founder, techARC, credits KaiOS with bringing about a paradigm shift in infotainment in India. “This (the feature phone platform) becomes the first exposure of mobile users to a digital platform. It is also helping the ecosystem and new users to digital services without much increase to the cost of the device,” he said.
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Zero Day exploit
Firefox Firefox 66.0.1 Firefox update Security Vulnerabilities TrendMicro Zero Day exploit

Firefox update fixes critical security vulnerability

Firefox 66.0.1 Released with Fix for Critical Security Vulnerabilities that discovered via Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative. The vulnerability affects all the versions of Firefox below 66.0.1.

An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to take complete control over the target system of the process.

CVE-2019-9810: Incorrect alias information

Incorrect alias information with IonMonkey JIT compiler for Array.prototype.slice leads to missing bounds check and a buffer overflow.

The bounds checking is a method used for detecting the variable is present within the bounds, a failed bound check would through the exception and results in security vulnerabilities.

CVE-2019-9813: Ionmonkey type confusion with proto mutations

Mishandling of proto mutations leads to the type of confusion vulnerability in IonMonkey JIT code.

The type confusion vulnerability occurs, when the code doesn’t verify what objects it is passed to, and blindly uses it without type-checking.

By exploiting this vulnerability an attacker can execute arbitrary commands or code on a target machine or in a target process without user interaction.

This vulnerability discovered by an independent researcher Niklas Baumstark targeting Mozilla Firefox with a sandbox escape in Trend Micro Zero-day initiative contest and he successfully demonstrates the JIT bug in Firefox, for that he earned $40,000.

In Pwn2Own 2019 contents researchers exploit multiple bugs with leading providers such as Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Windows, VMware and earned $270,000 USD in a single day by submitting 9 unique zero-day exploits.

The Firefox bug was introduced in the second day of the contest by Fluoroacetate team and an individual security researcher Niklas Baumstark.
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Hacking
Cyber Security Firefox Hacking

Mozilla Firefox Considers Blocking Cyber security Company Darkmatter; Reports Arise of Its Link to a Cyber Espionage Program




Firefox 'browser-maker' Mozilla is under talks about considering whether to block the cyber security organization DarkMatter from serving in as one of its internet security gatekeeper after a Reuters report connected the UAE-based firm to a cyber-espionage program.

The international news organization announced in January that the cyber-security company gave the staff the secret to a hacking operation with the codename Project Raven, on behalf of an Emirati intelligence agency. The unit there included previous U.S. intelligence officials who led hostile cyber operations for the UAE government.

The shrouded program, which operated from a converted Abu Dhabi house far from DarkMatter's headquarters, included hacking into the internet accounts of human rights activists, journalists and officials from rival governments.

Mozilla said the company is under talks to arrive at a decision on whether to deny the authority possessed by DarkMatter, however expects to decide within weeks. While two Mozilla officials said in a meeting a week ago that Reuters' report raised their worries about whether DarkMatter would abuse their position to certify sites as safe or not.

Selena Deckelmann, a senior director of engineering for Mozilla, said "We don't currently have technical evidence of misuse (by DarkMatter) but the reporting is strong evidence that misuse is likely to occur in the future if it hasn't already."

Likewise informing that Mozilla was thinking about stripping a few or the majority of the 400 certifications that DarkMatter has granted to sites under a limited authority since 2017.

In any case DarkMatter CEO Karim Sabbagh denied the Reuters report connecting his company in any way to Project Raven."We have never, nor will we ever, operate or manage non-defensive cyber activities against any nationality," he said in a letter to Mozilla on February 25th, posted online by the cyber security company.

While in the past Mozilla has depended heavily on technical issues when choosing whether to trust a company with certification authority or not, the Reuters investigation has driven it to re-evaluate its arrangement for affirming candidates.

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Twitter
Bug Firefox Google Safari Browser Apple Twitter

Bug in Google Breaking Search Result Links




Discovered by a Twitter account of the site wellness-heaven.de , there exists a bug in Google Search known to break the search results when utilizing Safari in macOS if the connection contains a plus symbol.


First observed on around September 28th, when there was critical drop in the site's activity from Safari users.For example, on the off chance that you search for a specific keyword and one of the search results contains a plus symbol, similar to https://forums.developer.apple.com/search.jspa?q=crash+app+store&view=content,
then when you tap on the connection it won't do anything.

At the point when the issue was accounted for to John Mu, a webmaster trends analyst at Google, he answered back that it was undoubtedly unusual and that he would pass on the bug report.

The BleepingComputer could affirm this bug utilizing the search results for Apple found on Safari in macOS Sierra. They have likewise reached out to Google as well for more comments in regards to this bug, however did not heard back.

This bug is likewise influencing Firefox 61.0.1 in macOS, however seems, by all accounts to be working fine with Chrome 69.


Anyway, it is recommended for the users who may have seen a plunge in traffic beginning around September 28, to check their analytics software to decide whether this is originating from Safari users being unable to click on their links.

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malware
Financial Data Breach. Firefox Google Chrome malware

New Malware Variant Designed To Swindle Financial Data from Google Chrome and Firefox Browsers



Researchers have as of late discovered Vega Stealer a malware that is said to have been created in order to harvest financial information from the saved credentials of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers.

At present,  the Vega Stealer is just being utilized as a part of small phishing campaigns, however researchers believe that the malware can possibly bring about major hierarchical level attacks as it is just another variation of August Stealer crypto-malware that steals credentials, sensitive documents, cryptocurrency wallets, and different subtle elements put away in the two browsers.

On May 8 this year, the researchers observed and obstructed a low-volume email campaign with subjects, for example, 'Online store developer required'. The email comes with an attachment called 'brief.doc', which contains noxious macros that download the Vega Stealer payload.

The Vega Stealer ransomware supposedly focuses on those in the marketing, advertising, public relations, and retail/ manufacturing industries. Once the document is downloaded and opened, a two-step download process begins.

The report said "...The first request executed by the document retrieves an obfuscated JScript/PowerShell script. The execution of the resulting PowerShell script creates the second request, which in turn downloads the executable payload of Vega Stealer, the payload is then saved to the victim machine in the user's "Music" directory with a filename of 'ljoyoxu.pkzip' and once this file is downloaded and saved, and it is executed automatically via the command line."

At the point when the Firefox browser is in utilization, the malware assembles particular documents having different passwords and keys, for example, "key3.db" "key4.db", "logins.json", and "cookies.sqlite".

Other than this, the malware likewise takes a screenshot of the infected machine and scans for any records on the framework finishing off with .doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .xls, .xlsx, or .pdf for exfiltration.
While the researchers couldn't ascribe Vega Stealer to any particular group, regardless they guarantee that the document macro and URLs associated with the crusade propose that a similar threat actor is responsible for campaigns spreading financial malware.

So as to be protected, Ankush Johar, Director at Infosec Ventures, in a press statement said that "...Organisations should take cyber awareness seriously and make sure that they train their consumers and employees with what malicious hackers can do and how to stay safe from these attacks. One compromised system is sufficient to jeopardize the security of the entire network connected with that system."

Because while Vega Stealer isn't the most complex malware in use today, but it does demonstrates the adaptability and flexibility of malware, authors, and actors to accomplish criminal objectives.


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