Firefox is fast, flexible and SECURE

We all know that our browsers have "Security features" to secure our web browsing, but what exactly are those "features".
Below I discuss all the methods firefox applies to make it a secure browser.

See Also

The best firefox addons to Turbo Boost your browsing this 2014

Secure Connection Detection

When loading a web page, the connections the browser establishes with the web server can be encrypted or not. We can see an url uses encryption by the 'https' protocol. But having HTTPS does not necessarily mean that the connection is reliably secure. A website should also be able to identify itself.
Firefox shows one of the four icons on left of the web address:

Grey Globe

Grey Globe specifies that the connection was served over HTTP ie. is unencrypted.

Warning Triangle

The connection is partially secure, it was served over HTTPS but contains unencrypted content which were served over http.

Grey Padlock

The connection is secure and the website's address was verified.

Green Padlock

The connection is secure and website's address has been verified using an Extended Validation (EV) certificate.

An EV certificate requires extensive verification of the requesting entity's identity by the certificate authority (CA) before a certificate is issued.

Built-in Phising and Malware protection

Powered by Google safe browsing, Phishing and Malware Protection works by checking the sites that you visit against lists of reported phishing and malware sites. These lists are automatically downloaded and updated every 30 minutes or so when the Phishing and Malware Protection features are enabled.

Plugin Blocklist

Add-ons that cause stability or security issues are put on a blocklist.

• Disables unsafe add-ons
• Blocks unsafe add-ons from being installed
• Prevents plugins from running automatically

Here is a list of blocked addons

Sandboxed Plugins

On Windows and Mac OS X with adobe flash player 11.3+.

A sandbox is a restricted environment in which certain functions are prohibited. For example, deleting files and modifying system information such as Registry settings and other control panel functions may be prohibited. Sandboxes are used when executable code has come from an external source that is not entirely trusted.

Protects user from flash plugin related malware attacks.

Mixed content blocking

When you visit a https encrypted page, there can be content still served over http which would be unencrypted. Firefox, in such cases, will block all the unencrypted content automatically.

Content Security Policy

Content Security Policy (CSP) allows a site owner to explicitly specify sources from where the content is allowed to be loaded. This prevents Cross Site Scripting (XSS) and data injection attacks.

Same Origin Policy

It specifies documents retrieved from distinct origins to be isolated from each other. The policy disallows a website's script to access a page from another domain. This helps in preventing Cross Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

Smart 3rd Party Cookie Blocking

Cookie is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user's web browser while the user is browsing that website. But when you visit a website, various 3rd party cookies are also set. There are generally from web trackers and advertising company to track a user across all pages where the tracker is available. That's why you see advertisements targeted specifically for you.

But not all 3rd party cookies are bad. For example when you visit a website with a facebook like button then facebook needs to set cookie to authenticate your login. Firefox by default, only allows to set 3rd party cookies if you have visited those website ie. facebook cookie will only be set if you have visited facebook.com. Since you rarely visit advertising companies website, those cookies will be blocked.

3 state Do not track

Disabled by default. When you turn on the Do-not-track feature, Firefox tells every website you visit (as well as their advertisers and other content providers) that you don't want your browsing behavior tracked. Honoring this setting is voluntary.

Firefox allows you to set one of the three states:

• “user says nothing”
• “user says track”
• “user says don’t track”.

Outdated Plugin check

Plugins are built outside of Firefox by companies like Adobe Systems and Apple. Plugins don't always update automatically. Old plugins increase your risk for attack by malware, viruses, and other security threats. You can go to https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/ to check if your plugins are up to date.

Out of process Plugin container

A crash protection feature isolates certain plugins from the browser process. Each plugin are loaded separately from Firefox in a plugin-container process, allowing the main Firefox process to stay open if a plugin crashes.

Secure Software Installation

A secure connection is required before you can install add-ons and other 3rd party software.

Anti-Virus Integration

Firefox integrates with your computer’s anti-virus software, scans your downloads automatically.

Privacy and Security Addons

Firefox has the best security and privacy addons available like:

• Adblock Plus
• NoScript Security Suite
• Web of Trust - WOT
• Ghostery
• BetterPrivacy

View them all https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/extensions/privacy-security/?sort=users

Mozilla really cares about your privacy

The guys at Mozilla respect user's privacy. They always have opposed internet censorship and surveillance. They collect no or limited data, do not provide this data to any other party. Plus having a 100% opensource code pretty much makes sure they always have good code.

Do comment if you think I have missed anything.

Getting worried by loss or theft of your laptop or cameras is normal. But if you take precautions beforehand, then you can not only track your laptop or cameras but also erase the data and contacts saved on them. Take a look on some of the services, which, after installing and activating on your laptop or camera you can easily track them… If you use a laptop you might also want to make your external hard drive wireless.

Laptops

LocateMyLaptop

(Windows) (Free/Paid)

You can register your PC or laptop for free on LocateMyLaptop. After registering you can track one computer. After registration you have to download the software, which gets downloaded in stealth mode and gets hidden after installation. As soon as internet is accessed on the device, its location is shown on Google Map. Only one computer can be tracked in free version. It also has a paid version, that costs $3 meaning approximately ₹184 monthly, and has many extra features like free space delete, remote data wipe off, safe IP list.

Norton Anti-Theft

(Windows/Mac) (Paid)

Anti-virus company Symantec’s anti-theft application can track lost laptops. This is paid software, in which user can install anti-theft software on three devices and track them. It not only lets you track your devices but also has feature like remote lock and lost notifications. It also has a feature called sneak peak, which enables user to stealthily click photos of the person using it. With web control you can locate, track and lock your devices anytime, anywhere.

GadgetTrak

(Windows/Mac) (Paid)

Windows and Mac users can go to GadgetTrak’s website and register themselves. It only has paid services, which are available for an annual fee of $20. Its specialty is that it tracks Wi-Fi based location also with latitude and longitude. Other than tracking the device’s location on Google map it also has an option of sneak peak, with which user’s image can be captured and e-mailed stealthily.

Front Door Software

(Windows/Mac) (Free/Paid)

Its specialty is that in case of laptop loss or theft it has security features like stolen alert display, remote lockdown, audible prevention alert, custom text messages, and Geo-location tracking. It has both free and paid versions. Free version does not have Geo-tracking feature, instead for about ₹1843 you can get a license for 3 years. In case of loss or theft user can send message on laptop’s screen and also remotely customize alarm in the laptop to alert people about the theft.

Find My Device

(Mac) (Free)

If you are a iPhone, iPad or Mac PC user, then you can use Apple's free tracking service. This is Apple’s free tracking service that can be activated by going into iCloud. In this you can track where the PC is being used with the help of location service. If your Mac gets lost or stolen, you can go to iCloud website and enter your Apple ID and password and start tracking.

Lock It Tight

(Windows)(Free)

Its basic services are free. With basic services you can activate the software on five device. In case of loss or theft user can enable location tracking, clipboard logging, browser history logging, remote file deletion, remote file retrieval, screen shots, webcam capturing, key logging and file tracking.

Camera

Do you know that even your camera can be traced? But for this you don’t need to install any software in your camera, because this is not possible. You just have to go to Stolen Camera Finder’s website, and after signing-up, upload a photo clicked from your camera. This website will extract the camera’s unique serial number from the photo and register it. As soon as a photo clicked from the camera gets uploaded on a photo sharing site like Picasa, Flicker, etc. this website will track the camera’s serial number and send the link to your e-mail ID.

A comparison of two raw Pancam photographs from sols 3528 and 3540 of Opportunity's mission (a sol is a Martian day). Notice the "jelly doughnut"-sized rock in the center of the photograph to the right.

The Opportunity rover that has been active on Mars since 2004, according to the scientists before recent discovery, had explored all of the mars. But their views have changed since the ‘appearance’ of a mysterious rock caught by the rover.

The rover had been stuck at the same place for over a month due to bad weather conditions and photographed the same region all the time. The photographs being sent were monitored at the Jet Propulsion Library (JPL) in California. One can compare the photographs captured by the rover’s panoramic camera (Pancam) on sol 3528 of the mission and the sol 3540. While sol 3528 shows a bare bedrock, sol 3540 had a fist-sized rock. The MER scientists nicknamed it “Pinnacle Island”.

Raw images from Pancam can be viewed in the Archive. NASA issued a status report “Encountering a surprise” for this revelation.

Mars Exploration rover scientist Steve Squyres told a JPL event it seems the planet literally "keeps throwing new things at us". He also said, "We saw this rock just sitting here. It looks white around the edge in the middle and there's a low spot in the centre that's dark red - it looks like a jelly doughnut.”

"And it appeared, just plain appeared at that spot - and we haven't ever driven over that spot."

Where did the Pinnacle Island come from?

NASA has derived two possible explanations:
1) The rover must have “flipped” the rock as it maneuvered, or,
2) It might have landed there after a nearby meteorite impact.

Squyers told that the possible cause of the mystery might be the Opportunity’s front right steering actuator that has stopped working. The wheel with that actuator would when turn across the rock, it would do a jittery motion which may have flung the rock out of the place landing few feet away from the rover.
The object is currently being investigated by rover’s measuring instruments. It looks like a jelly doughnut-white around the edge in the middle and there's a low spot in the centre that's dark red.  "It's very high in sulphur, it's very high in magnesium, it has got twice as much manganese as we've ever seen in anything on Mars,” Squyres said.

"That's the beauty of this mission ... what I've realised is that we will never be finished. There will always be something tantalizing, something wonderful just beyond our reach that we didn't quite get to - and that's the nature of exploration."

Opportunity has now been roaming the planet for more than the originally planned ten years, travelling about 24 miles (38km) as on 15 January 2014. Sister rover Spirit lost to the Martian elements and stopped transmitting in March 2010.

How powerful is your mind?

A Supercomputer in Japan has cracked the code of the human brain by mapping one second of one percent of human brain activity. It might not seem impressive but it's an important breakthrough in stimulation technology. Using the forth most powerful computer in the world known as K supercomputer, scientists have replicated the network of 1.73 Billion nerve cells and 10.4 trillion synapses. K computer used over 700,000 processor cores and 1.4 million GB of RAM, to model the data in 40 minutes.  

The K computer is based on a distributed memory architecture with over 80,000 computer nodes.

It is used for a variety of applications, including climate research, disaster prevention and medical  research. The K computer's operating system is based on the Linux Kernel, with additional drivers designed to make use of the computer's hardware. In June 2011, K was ranked the world's fastest supercomputer, with a computation speed of over 8 petaflops, and in November 2011, K became the first computer to top 10 petaflops.

Its the most sophisticated project of its kind by the joint venture between Japanese research group RIKEN and German research group Forschungszentrum Julich. Mapping and then stimulating the human brain requires next-gen supercomputing, an order of computational power known as "Exscale-Computing". Exascale computers are those which can carry out a quintillion floating point operations per second, which is an important milestone in computing. No computer of this power yet exist but but Intel has said that it aims to have such a machine in operation by 2018.

 

Huawei's Android Based Micro Gaming Console :Tron

Chinese manufacturer Huawei has just unveiled its own mini-console called the "Tron" at the CES 2014. The Tron runs on JellyBean (version 4.2.3), features a Tegra 4 chip, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, Wireless AC and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, a USB 3.0 port and HDMI output, audio jack, RJ-45 port, and can be connected through Bluetooth to as many as four pad controllers. Each controller features a sizable touchpad and similar button configuration to a Microsoft Xbox's pad. The expected price is around $120, just $20 more than the OUYA Android console. Like the Kickstarter-funded Ouya, the Huawei Tron is a compact micro console that lets you play Android-based games on your TV utilising a custom control pad. The new, mini console connects to a television set through HDMI. It allows users to navigate the onscreen action through an accompanying controller that features a circular touchpad at the top.

The company has partnered up with several game platforms like PS3, PC and NDS to develop custom games for Tron. 12 custom games are already available for the gadget. Due to the Nvidia chip inside, TRON also supports 4K video playbacks.

While working in team and collaboratively editing documents among team members on Google Drive, tracking changes can get a little messy. Google Drive’s new feature “activity stream” will make it easier to track changes in documents that are shared among multiple users.

Being able to see what file was edited last, and by who, in a single pane will ensure users get a smooth experience. Google also said it’s easier to filter your activity stream; simply select a file or folder, and your stream will change to show relevant information to that document or image.

The following added activities will appear in your Google Drive activities stream.

• Moving and removing
• Renaming
• Uploading
• Sharing and unsharing
• Editing and commenting

 

Now when you open Drive, click the round information button (ⓘ) at the top right corner to open the activity stream (as you can see in the GIF above). A list of all recent changes to your documents will appear accompanied by the profile images of those who made the changes. Use the activity stream to track changes to folder or individual files.

It has also become easier to rename, share, organize and with new drop down menu at top of each folder. Below this menu you will see the entire folder hierarchy which enables you to jump to a different folder with single click. You can also see profile pictures which will help you.



Tracking changes to your document will be easier task.This feature will be rolling out over the next few days

Smartphone Manufacturer 1- What should we do for our products to be unique, to be something new and rare and something that will bring revolution.

Smartphone Manufacturer 2- Big screen, done. Waterproof, done. Superfast processors, done. Hmmmmm…..let’s bend some rules, let’s bend the screen.

Smartphone Manufacturer 1- Say what!

This is how I think the fire started, the revolution of curved displays. Yes, we are talking about bendable screens in our smartphones. But what use will it be to us?

Let’s first understand the tech behind this new technology.
“A flexible OLED is based on a flexible substrate which can be either plastic, metal or flexible glass. The plastic and metal panels will be light, thin and very durable - in fact they will be virtually shatter-proof as compared to glass-paneled non-flexible OLEDs.”

Samsung Galaxy Round

The first range of devices to use a flexible display won't be flexible at all. While the manufacturer may bend the display or curve it around a non-flat surface, the final user will not be able to actually bend the device. Still it will have several advantages: these displays will be lighter, thinner and much more durable compared to glass based displays. E.g- LG G FLEX, Samsung Galaxy ROUND etc. Second generation flexible OLED devices may indeed be flexible to the final user. Finally, when the technology is ready, we may see OLED panels that the user can fold, bend or stretch. This may create all sorts of exciting designs that will enable large displays to be placed in a mobile device and only be opened when required.

Bendable Display

Now i will not dig deeper into hows, whens and whats about the technology. But rather i have a question in my mind- Will curved displays be a game changer for the audience? The major driving force about this new technology can be stated as FASCINATION. People will be mesmerized reading about it, using it at the Jumbo electronics but will they buy it? Will they replace their old smartphones with something that will be a slight bulge in their pockets? And if so, then for what?

Agreed that there are several advantages of curved displays over flat ones like weight, strength, reflection issue, different gaming experience, etc… but what is that one USP that will speak for the product? Is it the display itself or something new? A lot of questions unanswered. But I think I have the answers to a few of them. First of all, No, rigid curved displays are not the technology that will replace my Galaxy Note. Secondly, yes I am fascinated by it but I will definitely not invest in it because the price of smartphones goes southwards, DAILY. And lastly, it’s a new idea so a less techy guy would be afraid of using it because “Engine toh “MARUTI” ka hi number one hai.”


                                                   Future of Bendable display 

The future indeed gleams bright for 'Bendable displays'. It wouldn't be surprising to see Apple, Samsung...trying to enter this foray with innovative devices. But as they say, "Time will tell". Until then let us wait for the 'Era of Iron Man' to unfold.

Internet Explorer's dominance was challenged by faster and powerful add-ons system Firefox which enhanced browser's functionality. There are thousands of Firefox add-ons available that let you change the way it looks and what your firefox can do. Chances are that someone out there has already found a way to make Firefox do anything you've imagined—and a lot of things you probably haven't. By automating tasks, providing more control over how websites are displayed, and adding new ways to search your desired information.

All-in-One Sidebar

It brings almost every important Firefox features to the sidebar. Now you get quick access to your downloads, bookmarks, history and add-ons, you can also customize the experience to make it even faster. Click on the Tools button to explore more. 

HTTPS Everywhere

It uses some basic method of protecting your system, it uses secure connection to pre defined set of websites. This add-on connects every websites through HTTPS connection. If some of the websites are creating problems, you can white list them and they will not be connected through HTTPS connection any further.

Adblock Plus

So many websites these days carry big, distracting ads, Adblock Plus does a great job at removing them so you never even knew they were there at all. Absolute necessity of the internet.What more can I say about an extension that already has more than 200 million downlads?

LastPass  

LastPass is my favourite when it comes to encrypting and keeping your password for safe-but-easily-accessible use. It keep your various online log-ins secure and remembers them all which is even bigger advantage. It keeps track of your user names and passwords for you and you only need to remember a single log-in for LastPass. It also fills in forms for you and can used through any platform, be it mobile or desktop.

WOT

WOT or Web of Trust is actually a user ratings based add-on informing you of the information related to the level of security behind webpage you are visiting. Go for GREEN and avoid visiting websites having RED circles.

 

Ghostery

Now browsing is not private anymore. On every site you visit, many software applications commonly known as bugs and trackers collect data of your visit to pages and links. Ghostery blocks over a thousand of these trackers and also provides information of the tracker tracking you and which are blocked.

StumbleUpon

The Web can be overwhelming and finding really interesting sites which is normally next to impossible.  StumbleUpon can help: Click the "Stumble" button on the toolbar it adds to be taken to a site. You like the website, click the "I like it!" button; if you don't, click the thumbs-down button. StumbleUpon learns from your answers (and those of millions of other users) to serve you better sites in the future. You can add list of interests to check websites you wish to see which normally is next to impossible to find.

Morning Coffee 

Some of us want to check our favorite Web sites in the early mornings before work, but while we're still dozy and we can't quite get the mouse or keyboard to work the right way. Morning Coffee saves you the trouble by letting you organize Web sites and open all that day's sites when you fire up Firefox. This add-on could save you so much time.

Xmarks

It can back up and synchronize your bookmarks and passwords, and even can help you discover new sites you might be interested in (based on what other users are bookmarking). XMarks is a bookmarking add-on that backs up and synchronizes your bookmarks on each of your computers, integrating with your web browser and keeping your favorite links safely backed up. If you're a frequent bookmarker and you regularly use multiple PCs.

Session manager

Session manager helps the user save the web pages and retrieve any time how they stored in the session manager. So that no changes of content and form details which we are stored in the last session we can retrieve as usual.

Pocket

Came across an awesome article online, but don’t have time to read the whole thing? Use this extension to send it to your Pocket, arguably one of the best read-it-later apps on the market.

DownThemAll

It features an accelerator that can increase speed up to 4x, while also allowing you to pause and resume downloads. Open-source, free, and unencumbered by adware or spyware.

AutoPager

Are you tired of continually click on the "next page" link when reading articles or browsing? Use AutoPager, an add-on that automatically loads next pages when you each the end of a page.

Craving to watch the new Big Bang episodes?  Master Chef perhaps? or the so popular How I met your mother?
Then what better website than http://www.hulu.com/.
Hulu is an online video service that offers a selection of hit shows, clips, movies and more. All your favorite episodes all in one place.
But there’s a catch:

Hulu is not available outside U.S.

So now what?

Bypass it!

Let me introduce you to http://tunlr.net/. Tunlr is a DNS (domain name system) unblocking service. They use sophisticated technologies (a.k.a. the Tunlr Secret Sauce ©) to re-adress certain data envelopes, tricking the receiver into thinking the envelope originated from within the U.S. Tunlr not only works for Hulu but also for Netflix, MTV, CBS etc. Thanks to Tunlr you will be streaming data in the best quality available. Since we don't route multimedia content over an intermediary network, only the speed of your internet connection is the limiting factor.

Tunlr pros:

• FREE!
• Requires no downloads or software installation.
• Unlike VPN bypassing, Tunlr does not stream videos through their servers. So only your internet connection speed is the limiting factor.
• Available on any device or platform

Using Tunlr:

Setting up Tunlr is very easy.
Instructions are available on their website: http://tunlr.net/get-started/

Google released Chrome 32 for Linux, Mac and Windows. The new version includes tab indicators, revived look for Windows 8 Metro mode, and automatic blocking of malware downloads.

Spotted the speaker icon on the tab and either delete it or you enter the page and mute the audio on the site’s video player. Brilliant, heh?

But wait, Google has something  more to offer. Chrome 32, rolled out by the web giant allows you to track down noisy tabs with visuals: scan your tabs and look for the speaker icon to see which one is the disruptor. You’ll also be able to tell which tabs are using your webcam. These feature is arguably the most exciting one as it finally ends the annoying search to figure out which tabs is producing sound.

Google’s update also includes new enhancements that deliver warnings before you inadvertently download malware while Windows 8 users will appreciate the new “Metro” mode look that effectively turns the app into a full-screen instance of Chrome OS.

The latest build from Google also offers a more noticeable warning when it detects a malicious download – warning appear in the download tray at the bottom of the screen and looks like:

All new features in Chrome that was available since last November has finally emerged from beta testing and is now available to all. You can update to the latest release directly from HERE