Matt Warman reports:
A new extension for the Firefox web browser makes it easier than ever before for users to steal account information from users logging on to unencrypted websites via unsecured wifi networks. Developed by Eric Butler, the Firesheep extension collects the “cookies” that a selection of websites such as Facebook and Twitter use to allow access, and then allows users to “sidejack” their accounts.
The extension works by collecting user information and showing it in a Firefox window; Firesheep then lets each account be taken over simply by clicking on it.
Read more in the Telegraph. Ian Paul has a more detailed report on PCWorld. To read Eric Butler’s intro of Firesheep, see his blog. Alexia Tsotsis reports on a workaround for it on TechCrunch.
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