Firefox Extension Can Lead To Account Hacking

A new Firefox extension, called Firesheep, essentially allows for users to view the online accounts of everyone else in that network. This only occurs on a relatively insecure wireless network, such as those in cafés and college dorms. The accounts that can be retrieved seem endless, with websites ranging from shopping to social media to e-mail. This list includes, but isn’t limited to, Amazon, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Wordpress.


The extension works by showing a list of all users with open accounts that are nearby. With a quick click, you can easily log in to a site as someone else. This screenshot above (via TechCrunch) demonstrates how the various accounts are captured and can easily go from site to site. Certain sites, such as Facebook, are constantly under pressure to keep information secure. If your account has been logged into from Firesheep, there is no alert to tell you this. Therefore, the hacker can access messages, chats, and more without you knowing.

Since the announcement of this hacking ability, Firesheep has been increasing in downloads. While Firesheep can only be used on Firefox, it can steal information from any browser. The best way to ensure your safety is to make sure the wireless network is secure before sending or receiving personal information.

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