Dell unveils a secure web browser

DELL HAS LAUNCHED A tailored version of Firefox 3.6 that it claims will make for safer web browsing.

Dell teamed up with system management company Kace to build its virtualised version of Firefox and imaginatively titled it Secure Browser.

In theory, Dell's Secure Browser contains any downloaded malware within the browser itself, which should keep the OS and hardware secure. You see, it does what it says on the tin. This means it's easier to clean up a vulnerable system as Secure Browser effectively resets the software state with an undo function.

Punters can create white or black lists of which sites they allow the browser to visit. Dell reckons that limiting website access and controlling usage can prevent cross-site scripting attacks. Dell also claims that Secure Browser won't run any programs or plug-ins without asking for permission first. Again, setting up the software to prevent hack attacks before the user hits a dodgy piece of code.

Secure Browser is what Dell calls a contained Firefox v3.6 virtualised browser with Adobe Reader and Flash plug-ins. Aside from the contained malware and reset features, Dell built in statistics and log analysis. Users can read about processes detected or blocked and use the information to create white and black lists.

The same team also worked on the Dell KACE K1000 Management Appliance. This uses the same secure browsing tool but rolls it out with management applications so it can be deployed across large organisations. µ