Mozilla brings in another privacy feature for Firefox users, strengthening browser security. With the latest Firefox release, Mozilla introduces mandatory device lock authentication to access stored passwords.
Firefox Users Need To Enter Device Lock To Access Stored Passwords
The latest Firefox update requires users to authenticate browser access with the device lock to access stored passwords. This move seemingly adds an additional security check in viewing login credentials stored within the browser.
Web browsers have long offered users a password management feature, allowing them to save login credentials for their respective accounts, whether about social media platforms or banking websites. Most modern browsers also facilitate users in creating strong passwords and allow them to save the credentials within the users’ browser accounts.
However, this security strategy doesn’t protect users’ credentials from breaches due to physical intrusions. An adversary could access and even export a target user’s credentials from the browser if the user left the browser account signed in.
Nonetheless, Mozilla has now devised a security measure to prevent such breaches. Starting Firefox 127, the browser will require users to pass device authentication before accessing the browser’s stored credentials. This won’t be troublesome for the users as they simply need to enter the system’s security lock – a password or biometric scan (according to the respective device) – to access Firefox Password Manager.
While this move prevents password theft due to physical breaches, it won’t suffice to prevent online threats such as credential stuffing and theft due to malware attacks. At this point, users must apply adequate security measures to protect their devices from digital threats.
Besides this feature upgrade, Mozilla released some security fixes with the latest Firefox version. These patches address four high-severity vulnerabilities, eight moderate-severity flaws, and three low-severity vulnerabilities.
To receive all these security fixes and feature upgrades, Firefox users must update their devices with the latest browser release at the earliest.
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