Re: Browsers and OS's

[Jason Richardson <A00JER2 () WPO CSO NIU EDU>]

That is incorrect, I see a message roll up from the bottom right hand
side of the browser window notifying me that updates are available.
Then I click on the red icon in the upper right hand corner to download
and apply the updates.  I am running the latest ver. (1.0.7) but it has
done that for several versions now.

---
Jason Richardson
Manager, IT Security and Client Development
Enterprise Systems Support
Northern Illinois University

> > > lbrooks () CS FSU EDU 10/4/2005 10:29:39 AM >>>
The only notification that Firefox gives that it needs to be updated is
a
red icon in the upper right hand corner of the tool bar. It is easy to
miss.
In fact I usually will miss it unless I have seen a notification for
updates
on one of the security mailing lists.

Louis Brooks
SAIT Labs
Florida State University


-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen W. Bradley [mailto:bradlesw () MUOHIO EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 11:18 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Browsers and OS's

Firefox has the option to periodically check for updates.

I have personally never seen it work but it is under:

Tools
Advanced
Software-update.


I leave mine checked all the time.

steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Sipher [mailto:jsipher () SKIDMORE EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 10:49 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: [SECURITY] Browsers and OS's

Folks,

Hello.  I would welcome feedback/insight on an issue we are
discussing.  It relates to browser world and *potential* security
concerns.  In a nutshell, there is a belief that a browser tied to an

OS (IE for Windows, Safari for MacOS) allow for better security
because of the ability through the OS to let the users  (a) know when

there is an update to the browser and (b) assist with the download/
install.  The challenges is that we also want to use Firefox for a
variety of purposes and there doesn't appear to be a way (on Firefox
for any OS) to have similar functionality.  So, the **real** concern
is someone downloads Firefox and is using it.  Then after time new
versions come out, the end user doesn't (a) know about it and (b)
doesn't actually do the upgrade and then we have a potential security

hole.  Firefox for "techies" isn't the concern, it is the use by the
common person that has some concerned.

Has anyone else on other campuses talked about this and have insight
as to how you have or have not addressed the issue.  Are there ways/
systems out there to aid in this process?

Thanks,
...Justin

_______________________________________________________
   Justin Sipher
   Chief Technology Officer
   Skidmore College
   Saratoga Springs, NY
   jsipher () skidmore edu
   518-580-5909
_______________________________________________________