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Hackers prefer to use Firefox and Opera

Opera is much more popular among hackers than normal web users, a researcher has claimed.

By Asavin Wattanajantra, 24 Aug 2009 at 10:57

Hackers prefer to use Firefox and Opera to launch their attacks, as well as defend themselves against other criminals, according to a report.

In a study by US security firm Purewire, criminals attempting to exploit flaws in other websites used Firefox 46 per cent of the time.

Opera was the second most popular browser with 26 per cent, much higher than the browser's usual share for average web users. In March, Net Applications said Opera had a 0.68 to 0.70 per cent share of the global market.

Paul Royal, a security researcher for Purewire, made the discovery after analysing exploit kits, which are used to target flaws in browsers and operating systems.

According to media reports, Royal believed hackers were more likely to use Opera as they knew that the browser wasn’t likely to be targeted by other hackers.

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2 comments

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Hackers use Opera and other hackers don't attack them? Really?

I think that if a quarter of hackers use Opera there has to be an incentive to attack it. Most attacks are between individuals at this point. If you have a quarter of hackers, who naturally tend to be competitive, aggressive (at least online) and tech savvy, using Opera I think it's unlikely that it wouldn't be targetted.

In the wider world, outside of hacker communities, fine. It's doubtful that an attack on Opera browsers would get too many people. But the distribution is wildly skewed in the groups of people who do the attacks and the security in obscurity yarn doesn't stack up.

I think hackers use Opera just because it's a good browser.

By steviesteveo on Tuesday Aug 25

Flawed Argument

"According to media reports, Royal believed hackers were more likely to use Opera as they knew that the browser wasn’t likely to be targeted by other hackers."

But we were just told that Firefox (a popular browser) was used 46% of the time by hackers (probably means crackers); 20% more than Opera users. This in itself, however, is a very unclear statement. What does 46% and 26% "of the time" mean?

Could it just be that most knowledgeable people believe that IE (whatever version) is not a secure browser?

By 6tricky9 on Wednesday Aug 26

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