Firefox requires urgent update

Firefox users are being warned to update their browser as soon as possible to prevent a security flaw being exploited.

The flaw affects the QuickTime media player, and could allow a hacker free access to your PC.

"QuickTime Media-Link files contain an attribute that could be used on Windows systems to launch the default browser with arbitrary command-line options. This could be used to install malware, steal local data, or otherwise corrupt the victim's computer," a posting on the Mozilla website said.

Mozilla has posted an update which will close the vulnerability and can be found here.

Security firm Sophos has warned those who favour using Firefox over Microsoft's Internet Explorer not to be complacent about security.

"Consumers need to update their copies of Firefox to ensure they're fully protected against software vulnerabilities as security is not just a problem for users of Microsoft products like Internet Explorer," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.

However, though the problem affects QuickTime, an Apple-developed applicaton, in the Firefox browser, it only affects systems running Windows operating systems and not computers running Mac OS or Linux.

www.mozilla.com

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