In Linux it's better to get a packaged version of Firefox from a repository
See Ubuntuzilla
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ubuntuzilla/index.php?title=Main_Page

Thanks for responding.

Let me explain.

I use UBUNTU as a LiveCD because I only use it for banking.

To get the latest FF browser (for Linux), I downloaded the version indicated above.

The position is this, I uses the LiveCD forthe OS and the latest FF from a USB stick, then use them together.

Any advice on correcting the language in FF, or a more reliable download for FF linux (3.6.8) appreciated.

Best wishes.

A

OK - I understand. My reaction to that is if you're only using FF for banking and you're therefore interested in maximum security then I wouldn't use a program off a memory stick either, and whatever release comes with your live CD is good enough. But that's not answering the question ;-)

If you download it from here you should be able to get an EN version
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

Why would you not use a programme off a memory stick?

Well, the advantage of using a live-CD for banking is that it's read-only. Even if something were to be downloaded when you use the browser it can't survive the reboot - everything starts off afresh.

But if you're using a browser on a memory stick then that code could be compromised. Or perhaps there are addons or plugins that might be, or the cache. These will survive the reboot and could be used to spy on you next time you access the bank.

I don't think any of that is likely - I know of no such exploit - but if you're going to the trouble of using a Linux live CD for banking why run this risk? Any recent version of Firefox will do for accessing your bank. If the version on your CD is old, get a newer one, or a different distro. And it's easier too.

Thank you for the advice.

It does make sense.

The browser on the stick is a Linux version, and the LiveCD is UBUNTU - Linux.

I agree that the chance of a compromise within the browser running under Linux is slight. I assume that any browser breach would effectively mean that UBUNTU had been breached, and Linux viruses are rare.

I was only concerned about updating the browser and adding any security add-ons, for example: 'keylogger beater' and 'keyscrambler personal'. However, I don't know how necessary these addons are bearing in mind that the OS is Linux.

Best wishes.

A

Ps. It is refreshing on occasions to use UBUNTU just for a change of environment.

I was only concerned about updating the browser and adding any security add-ons, for example: 'keylogger beater' and 'keyscrambler personal'. However, I don't know how necessary these addons are bearing in mind that the OS is Linux.

It's not important. Much more important to use an unmodified browser - any browser - that was baked onto the Linux CD.

I use (OpenSUSE) Linux for banking - never Windows - but an installed system, not a live CD.

In Linux it's better to get a packaged version of Firefox from a repository

Not always as sometimes the third-party build of Firefox supplied by Linux distro can have its own problems on top of or modifications compared to Official Mozilla builds.

mozillaZine/Sumo mod.

James: true. And if I raise a bug I always check the Mozilla version too. But for the ordinary user it's best to use a the distro's packaged version 99% of the time IMO.

Downloading the Mozilla version and trying to install it is Windows-thinking - and is anyway beyond the capability of many who are new to Linux.

There's an attempt to write a help page that cover this for Thunderbird: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=560635 (I drafted the SUSE bit) but it's tricky to deal with it in a way that covers the myriad ways of doing stuff in Linux.

DavRo.

I was just thinking about your comment about not banking with programmes (FF) on a USB.

Does this mean that you would not bank using programmes on the hard drive, except with OpenSUSE. A drive is a drive (pendrive and HDD)? Or is it the point that a pendrive can be used in other machines and is therefore more vulnerable to say viruses? They can, of course, be virus checked.

Thanks

A

I do bank with a browser on the hard drive - since I use linux all the time. The fact that it's OpenSUSE is irrelevant. It would be more secure with a live CD, but I don't do that.

All I meant was that, if you're going to use a linux live CD for banking, I wouldn't compromise the extra security you get (a) from using linux not windows and (b) from loading from a read-only CD which therefore cannot be infected, by using a browser on a usb stick which can be infected.

And it's true that the pendrive itself could pick up some malware (though the likelihood that it would work under linux is remote.)

I just don't see what you gain from using Firefox on the USB drive - it reduces your security rather than increasing it.