Opera 9.1 Browser Introduces Phishing Alert

Opera has recently upgraded its critically acclaimed Internet browser, version 9.1. While an upgrade by .1 is nothing eventful, the new version incorporates an interesting and vital feature 'real time protection' for websites from phishing attacks.

'Opera Web browser' released version 9.1 on December 18, 2006 in which the company introduced a 'phishing filter'. Its purpose is to protect users from the phishers' deceitful tactics by using information from 'PhishTank' and 'GeoTrust'.

Opera's introduction of phishing protection follows the examples of 'Mozilla Firefox' and 'Microsoft Internet Explorer', both of which have added 'phishing filters' in their latest releases. Just as Firefox and IE, Opera 9.1 browser too shows a warning when users visit a suspicious site that tries to extort passwords and other sensitive information.

Users can let their systems allow Opera to check websites and verify if it attempt at phishing. This is possible by checking the 'Enable Fraud Protection option' on clicking the 'question mark' or 'letter in icon' in the address bar.

Any web surfer who finds a phishing site or message can enter information to PhishTank.com for other users to examine. If several users determine sites or messages to be potentially dangerous they are separately marked.

An effective phishing defense qualifies in 'speed' and 'response', according to security expert Bruce Schneier, CTO of 'BT Counterpane' who himself uses Opera. Opera's 'Fraud Protection' is featured with both - detecting real time phishing and immediately identifying suspected phishing sites.

Phishing is an online fraud that attempts to dupe users into revealing confidential information and is a rapidly growing Internet problem. There have been over 9,500 separate phishing attacks in November this year.

There are also some non-phishing updates in Opera 9.1, such as patches to the 'Windows Media plug-in-player', several 'memory leak' and 'crash fixes'. This browser is the fastest web browser with many handy features such as placing 'browser tabs' on any side of the screen.

There have not been enough adoption of Opera's web browser and, IE is still the prominent browser. However, Opera has successfully distributed its 'Opera Mini browser' on mobile devices through collaboration with 'device providers' worldwide.

Related article: Opera Issued Seven Patches for Browser, Kept One Secret

» SPAMfighter News - 12/22/2006