Firefox 3 Download Day Arrives

By Greg McNevin

June 16, 2008: After clocking a million ‘Download Day’ pledges from its supporters and three release candidates when it was hoping for just a solitary one, FireFox 3 is hitting the web today with a host of anticipated features and hopes for record-breaking downloads.

The increasingly popular open source web browser is expected to gobble up even more ground on Microsoft’s dominating Internet Explorer, particularly considering the addition of robust new security features.

Along with a host of usability improvements, extensions and aesthetics, version 3 has also implemented significant malware and phishing protection.

“Firefox 3 keeps track of all reported malware sites, protecting you by blocking them before the pages even load, ensuring that your computer is never at risk,” writes Debra Lynn Richardson, author of the Mozilla newsletter in “A Field Guide to Firefox 3”. “You can ignore the warnings if you want - it's your browser, after all - but we're hoping this added security will help protect users and make the Web safer for everyone.”

Regarding phishing, Richardson adds that Firefox 3 has improved protection again, with reported phishing sites now blocked before the pages are even loaded.

“Firefox 2 loaded the page, but warned you that it was a reported phishing site by greying it out and displaying a warning dialog,” writes Richardson. “Firefox 3's method, which matches the new Malware protection behaviour, is more secure and exposes you to less risk over all.”

Version 3 also includes a host of bugfixes and, according to Mozilla, significant speed improvements over version 2.

IDM has been putting the latest release candidates through their paces, and if RC3 is anything to go by, then Firefox 3 should not only please fans, but pick up a great many new converts.

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