Some of our readers may remember the Firesheep plugin for Firefox, that basically let anyone hack your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Firesheep was a controversial tool that exposed the vulnerabilities in unsecured Wi-Fi networks, allowing attackers to hijack social media sessions with ease. This raised significant concerns about online security and privacy.
A new plugin has been released for Firefox on the Mac to protect you from the Firesheep plugin. This new plugin is called BlackSheep, and what it does is send out fake information over the network, and also monitors traffic to make sure you don’t get hacked.
How BlackSheep Works
BlackSheep, also a Firefox plugin, is designed to combat Firesheep. BlackSheep does this by dropping ‘fake’ session ID information on the wire and then monitors traffic to see if it has been hijacked. While Firesheep is largely passive, once it identifies session information for a targeted domain, it then makes a subsequent request to that same domain, using the hijacked session information in order to obtain the name of the hijacked user along with an image of the person, if available.
BlackSheep’s approach is proactive. By sending out decoy session IDs, it effectively baits any potential Firesheep users on the same network. If BlackSheep detects that one of its fake sessions has been hijacked, it alerts the user immediately. This early warning system allows users to take action, such as disconnecting from the network or switching to a more secure connection.
Importance of Online Security
The release of BlackSheep highlights the ongoing battle between security experts and malicious hackers. While tools like Firesheep can expose vulnerabilities, they also serve as a wake-up call for the need for better security practices. For instance, using HTTPS instead of HTTP can significantly reduce the risk of session hijacking. Many websites have since adopted HTTPS as a standard, but there are still many that do not.
Moreover, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) has become increasingly popular as a method to secure online activities. VPNs encrypt all internet traffic, making it much harder for attackers to intercept and hijack sessions. BlackSheep adds another layer of security, particularly for those who frequently use public Wi-Fi networks.
You can find out more details about the BlackSheep Firefox plugin for Mac over at Zscaler. The plugin is easy to install and configure, making it accessible even for users who may not be tech-savvy. It serves as a valuable tool in the arsenal against online threats.
via Ubergizmo
Original Image Credit: Zazzle
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