Firefox 5 update for Mac users could have security links, says Sophos

Mozilla's update to Firefox 5 for Mac users, version 5.0.1, aimed at eliminating crashes when using a downloadable font in OS X 10.7 and fixing the Java plug-in in OS X 10.5, could have security links, says Sophos.

Download this free guide

2018 UK IT Priorities survey results

IT organisations in the UK and across Europe are starting to accelerate the move to the cloud. Read more about the key areas in which senior IT managers are planning to invest in over the next 12 months.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

Although the update is not really a security fix, crashes, such as the OS X font problem in OS X 10.7, always imply some security risk, said Paul Ducklin, Sophos head of technology, Asia Pacific.

"Whenever a program takes an uncharted and unexpected path of execution, there is cause for concern," he wrote in a blog post.

Ducklin said it is good to see that Mozilla is willing to produce this sort "between-the-train-stations" release, despite the fact that version 6 is due relatively soon in mid-August.