The Electronic Freedom Frontier (EFF) has updated its HTTPS Everywhere security tool to enhance protection for Firefox browser users against webpage security flaws. The new version of HTTPS Everywhere is a response to growing concerns about website vulnerability in the aftermath of the October 2010 release of Firesheep.
Firesheep is an attack tool that could enable an eavesdropper on a network to take over another user’s web accounts on social networking sites like Facebook or webmail systems such as HotMail if the browser’s connection to the web application either does not use cryptography or does not use it thoroughly enough.
Since the first release of HTTPS Everywhere the Firefox plugin has been downloaded more than half a million times.
Other sites targeted by Firesheep that now receive protection from HTTPS Everywhere include
Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.