Resolved How Secure is FF 4.06 beta?

I see FF 3 being updated all the time. I'm wondering how secure FF 4 beta really is. So far I've enjoyed its speed and haven't had any issues with it, but if it is less secure than version 3, I'd appreciate knowing it and revert. Thanks.

 

FF 4 beta is not for everyday prime-time useage. Its not an official and final release version like FF 3.6.12. Notice the word beta. That means its still in the testing and developemental stage. Its still being worked on. The final release for FF 4 should be out sometime next year. In this beta stage, it might contain lots of bug, trugs, and even gremlins, that could crash and burn your computer. If that doesn't worry you, then you can take it for a test drive and walk on the wild side. Furthermore, lots of addons and themes are not compatible with FF 4. Those devs usually wait until the final release comes out. As for how secure it is, I have no idea.

 

What he (Z Purple Hippo) said. You should not use any beta software on a live required system. Use it on a 2nd computer with no private information (since obviously you'll be browsing) for a test run but DO NOT use it on a computer that is necessary for your day to day work and/or private life.

This is not exclusive to FireFox, all BETA software should be treated in this way.

 

I understand, Gentleman. But neither of you has really answered my question.

 

IMHO no piece of software is totally secure. Its secure only until someone finds out some holes in it. We can only talk about relative security.

 

Agreed. But all things being equal... just how secure "is" the beta version compared to the latest version 3?

 

What the others, and I, are saying that it is, still, under development, so a proper comparison can be invalid. Unless you are a developer, it is impossible to know how two version stack up. side by side. My suggestion is, for, you, to go ahead and use it, if you must, but don't expect an answer at a newsgroup.
I am confident that the developers are incorporating all security fixes of a final, and stable version.

 

I had hopes that a developer might, in fact, be one of the readers here. You can never tell, Westside.

Currently lacking that assurance that it is more robust security-wise, I've disabled it and gone back to version 3. But I sure miss it. We're in for such a treat when 4 is released in final version.

 

I doubt a developer would be on this forum. They usually hang out on their newsgroup: http://groups.google.com/groups/sea...hunderbird&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=&safe=off

ooops, that should be firefox and not thunderbird: http://groups.google.com/groups/sea...illa.dev.apps.firefox&btnG=Search&sitesearch=

 

I'm not sure where "that" was stated, Tony, but I've uninstalled it and re-installed version 3. Thanks.

 

I suppose, Tony, although his response was certainly vague and could apply to any browser including version 3 of Firefox. I was hoping for some specifics. For instance, were the developers patching the beta version on a timely basis as security glitches were made known or was all of their time devoted to dealing with bugs and development? I just didn't see rsinfo's statement as dealing directly with my question but rather applying to all browsers in which case one might be tempted to say, "Well... if no software is totally secure, then we either pull the plug on our computers or we use any browser of our choice since they're all equally flawed." All I'm saying is that his response was too vague and did not deal with the question at hand.

 

I concur with Steve. Even final version are, never, permanently, secure. In doubt, get rid of it.

 

If you will look back a few posts you will discover that I already posted that I uninstalled the beta version.

By the logic that "even final versions are never permanently secure ", one might as well uninstall every program and pull the plug on the computer. Granted, I think I realize what you are trying to say, albeit you're not saying it very clearly. All programs are inherently insecure. It's just the nature of the beast. There simply is no perfect program. However, some are more secure than others and from that we try our best to evaluate programs and install those which will provide the greatest security as well as perform the tasks most efficiently.

All I was trying to determine was whether or not the beta 4 version of FF was being patched and whether it was reasonably (and I use that term guardedly) safe to use on a daily basis. It would seem that no one was able to provide an answer other than what has already been stated.

Thanks anyway.

Regards.

 

This makes sense, Tony. Thanks so much for educating me. I'll mark this thread resolved based upon what I've learned just now from reading your post.