Firefox reaches 25 million downloads

Look out, Microsoft.

That's the message this week from the Mozilla Foundation, whose Web browser Firefox has surpassed 25 million downloads in 100 days.

Mozilla, which released the free 1.0 program in November, says an average of 250,000 people download Firefox every day and more than half a million Web sites feature Firefox promotions. The group promotes the program as an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which has become a target for computer virus writers and other security exploits.

"What was just a small flame 100 days ago has since exploded into a phenomenal demonstration of the power of open source," lead Firefox architect Blake Ross wrote on a blog. "Tens of thousands of devoted users and fans are a powerful and capable force of change."

Mozilla developed the program using donations and an army of volunteer programmers, many of whom are presumably bent on challenging the dominance of IE. People downloaded more than 8 million copies of the test version of Firefox before the November launch.

Microsoft has been defensive about Internet Explorer, denying that it's more vulnerable to bugs than other browser programs. Yet the company made a surprise move this week, unveiling plans to release a new version of IE independently of an upcoming release of Windows so that it can more quickly fix security problems.

The growing popularity of Firefox may have spurred the move, some industry observers said. Recent surveys show that Microsoft's market share in Web browsers, while still huge, is slipping.

Mozilla, an open-source software foundation formed by Netscape, was spun off from Time Warner in 2003.

There are other reasons

Security comparisons may be debatable... I don't really know, as
I only use IE6 for website testing. This brings me to the main
reason why I'm behind the migration to Firefox: IE6 rendering
bugs. It has more CSS rendering issues than any other browser
I've used. Truly pathetic, considering IE5 for Mac, an older
program, fairs much better. It's the #1 bane of any standards-
compliant web developer's life. I really wish more articles would
illustrate this point. IE6 is single-handedly holding back the
proliferation of standardized web code, and it needs to be
phased out (won't happen, I know, but I can dream).

There are other reasons

Security comparisons may be debatable... I don't really know, as
I only use IE6 for website testing. This brings me to the main
reason why I'm behind the migration to Firefox: IE6 rendering
bugs. It has more CSS rendering issues than any other browser
I've used. Truly pathetic, considering IE5 for Mac, an older
program, fairs much better. It's the #1 bane of any standards-
compliant web developer's life. I really wish more articles would
illustrate this point. IE6 is single-handedly holding back the
proliferation of standardized web code, and it needs to be
phased out (won't happen, I know, but I can dream).

[pcabellor]

It's 250,000 downloads a day

Umm 25 million/100 days = 250,000 downloads a day.

[pcabellor]

It's 250,000 downloads a day

Umm 25 million/100 days = 250,000 downloads a day.

[smwvc]

How Much They Paying You?

I got a free Gmail account for hyping Firefox, I wonder how much CNet gets for doing it on an everyday basis? "Look Out,Microsoft" "Challenging The Dominance" Give me a break.

[smwvc]

How Much They Paying You?

I got a free Gmail account for hyping Firefox, I wonder how much CNet gets for doing it on an everyday basis? "Look Out,Microsoft" "Challenging The Dominance" Give me a break.

[saleen351]

Still spyware free since the day I used FF.08

Come June, new release of FF and it's only going to get better. For the guy who posted about this being nonsense, just know this, without FF, there would be no IE7...

have a nice day
www.getfirefox.com

[saleen351]

Still spyware free since the day I used FF.08

Come June, new release of FF and it's only going to get better. For the guy who posted about this being nonsense, just know this, without FF, there would be no IE7...

have a nice day
www.getfirefox.com

[System Tyrant]

How many of those are redownloads

I really like Firefox. So much so that I am forcing everyone at my office to use it at work. However, how many of those 25 million downloads are redownloads? I can personally account for at least 15 times for redownloading it to put on the same computer.

[System Tyrant]

How many of those are redownloads

I really like Firefox. So much so that I am forcing everyone at my office to use it at work. However, how many of those 25 million downloads are redownloads? I can personally account for at least 15 times for redownloading it to put on the same computer.

[201293546946733175101343322673]

Who Cares about # of Downloads?

I can download FireFox, use it for a few days, and then uninstall them. Furthermore, how does Mozilla determine the numbers? And who knows whether Mozilla is just making up numbers or not

[201293546946733175101343322673]

Who Cares about # of Downloads?

I can download FireFox, use it for a few days, and then uninstall them. Furthermore, how does Mozilla determine the numbers? And who knows whether Mozilla is just making up numbers or not

We will see . . .

If Firefox ever gets to the point where it is even HALF as popular as Internet Explorer... it will witness first-hand just how difficult it is to keep the software secure. OF COURSE it is more secure right now.. you know why? Because not enough people use Firefox right now for any evil-doers to care enough to exploit security holes. ANY program that gains a significant level of popularity becomes the target of hackers. And if Firefox wants to continue the "na na na nuh boo boo... we don't have any security issues" game... hackers will make it a point to prove them wrong. And I promise you the hackers will win that battle. Microsoft has always been good at playing their trump card at the right time.

We will see . . .

If Firefox ever gets to the point where it is even HALF as popular as Internet Explorer... it will witness first-hand just how difficult it is to keep the software secure. OF COURSE it is more secure right now.. you know why? Because not enough people use Firefox right now for any evil-doers to care enough to exploit security holes. ANY program that gains a significant level of popularity becomes the target of hackers. And if Firefox wants to continue the "na na na nuh boo boo... we don't have any security issues" game... hackers will make it a point to prove them wrong. And I promise you the hackers will win that battle. Microsoft has always been good at playing their trump card at the right time.

[effrazier]

Just because they have downloaded it

Does not mean they are still using it. I'm Not!

[effrazier]

Just because they have downloaded it

Does not mean they are still using it. I'm Not!

[unknown unknown]

A reason to support alternatives.

Even if you don't like Firefox etc any thing that gets other companies to improve their products and compete with each other is good for end-users. Microsoft has announced a new version of IE, possibly as and attempt to curb the switch to Firefox which has been driven, at least in part, by the lack of any serious development on IE.

[unknown unknown]

A reason to support alternatives.

Even if you don't like Firefox etc any thing that gets other companies to improve their products and compete with each other is good for end-users. Microsoft has announced a new version of IE, possibly as and attempt to curb the switch to Firefox which has been driven, at least in part, by the lack of any serious development on IE.