RSSOpera Browser Gets Fraud Protection
By Nate Mook | Published October 18, 2006, 3:15 PM
Opera Software is adding fraud and phishing protection to the next release of its free Web browser, version 9.1. The technology follows similar features coming in Firefox 2.0 and Internet Explorer 7, but takes a slightly different approach.
Phishing scams and other fraudulent Web sites have continued to pose a major threat to Web surfers. The Anti-Phishing Working Group said last month that phishing sites increased to 14,191, a new record. Scammers often pose as banks, ISPs and even government agencies in order to steal consumers' identity information.
Opera previously introduced warnings related to fraudulent URLs and SSL certificates. Now, the browser will actively check to see whether a Web site is trusted or a known fraud site. Specifically, when visiting a new site for the first time, the browser connects to a database operated by Opera.
If the site is known, a "i" will display at the right side of the address bar. If the site is unknown, a "?" will display. A fraudulent site will cause Opera to display a warning and prevent the user from connecting to it. Users can override the warning and visit the site if they so please.
Firefox 2.0, meanwhile, uses a blacklist that is stored locally. Users can opt to enable real-time fraud checking, which utilizes a database provided by Google and other security firms. Opera says it chose to turn on real-time protection by default, as most phishing attacks only last a short period of time and would be missed by an outdated blacklist.
Although some users may be concerned about privacy implications, Opera explains that its browser will only send the minimum information needed to check to see whether a site is fraudulent, and will then store the response for future use.
"We don't store information on our servers that let us track individual users. IP addresses are discarded and we don't use cookies or other session information. No information goes directly to third parties, all communication goes through our own servers," the company said in a blog posting. "The requests go over HTTP, but the replies will be signed by the server to make sure they are genuine."
Opera is utilizing a database of Web sites provided by GeoTrust, which was recently acquired by VeriSign. GeoTrust currently offers a browser toolbar that enables similar fraud checking. Still, the feature can be disabled if users are concerned, Opera notes.
I'll stick to Opera too, which is regularly tested the safest ( see Secunia) and the fastest.
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|stop visiting porn sites, then you won't need any fraud protection
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|Run !!! IE and Firefox...Opera is close to kill you !!
I love Opera, Why people use IE ???
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|IE was invented to keep moron away from Opera.
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|"Specifically, when visiting a new site for the first time, the browser connects to a database operated by Opera."
"Users can override the warning and visit the site if they so please."
Overide? How about disable it entirely! This is going to be a real headache before its over. I have enough trouble getting pages to display and logon to secure sites. Now my Opera has to connect to a DB and report every page I visit to Opera? (Shivers)
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|This is going to be a real headache before its over.
Why? I very, VERY seriously doubt you would *ever* see a false-positive.
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|Uh yes, you CAN disable it completely. But it also allows you to visit the site anyway, as the screenshots clearly show. And it doesn't report "every page". It looks up just the domain name, and it only needs to do so once. It doesn't report back every time you visit.
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|If only Opera could use Roboform...
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|This is just one thing. When you fully start using Opera, a whole other world is revealed to you as far as features compared to IE and Firefox. Makes you go "Wow."
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|Opera is great, and this feature is an added bonus. Trouble is good internet practice is the best way to combat this, and relying on the browser alone could give a false sence of security.
The type of idiots who fall for this are the same IE users plodding around on unservice packed machines oblivious to the charms of FF or Opera.
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|Sure but I have never had a reason to suggest browser to my family, as I know they will phone me when sites fail to work. However this is a very good reason to suggest Opera, it's better than Firefox's implementation, and less troublesome that IE7's
Hopefully there will be a beta of 9.1 in the next day or so, to have a play with it...
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|At home and at work, i use IE, Opera and Firefox. Id say 90% of the time i use and prefer Opera. Its the safest and the best !
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|"it's better than Firefox's implementation"
Based on what data?
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|Great timing, on the eve of IE7 Release steal some of Microsofts thunder... Nice one Opera...
PS. If your so inclined, You can download IE7 Gold here, it's a VAST improvement over IE6: http://downloads.yahoo.c...ernetexplorer/index.php
Will be on Microsoft site later...
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|Actually MS, Opera, the Mozilla team and some people from Konqueror all got together last year to discuss ways to work together to have a more unified experience for users concerning security.
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie.../2005/11/21/495507.aspx
http://dot.kde.org/1132619164/
http://www.hecker.org/mozilla/ssl-ui
(opera link is dead)
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|I definitely trust Opera and the blacklist they elaborate, and real time operating is the best solution. That's not to say that i wouldn't trust FF and IE7, of course everyone will do their best not to get surpassed by phishing websites, it's their reputation what's in the game. Personally, i'll stick to Opera as always.
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|Agreed!
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