Latest news with #MozillaFirefox
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Indian Express
What is Lumma Stealer, the malware Microsoft says infected more than 394,000 Windows PCs worldwide?
Microsoft, on May 21, announced that conducted a major takedown operation against Lumma Stealer, a malware designed to steal sensitive information from popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. In a blog post, Microsoft said that between March 16 and May 16, 2025, they identified more than 394,000 Windows PCs infected by the Lumma malware. Lumma Stealer operates as 'Malware-as-a-Service' and is pretty easy to distribute and difficult to detect by traditional security defences, making it a preferred tool for cybercriminals and threat actors to steal data. Often deployed via spear-phishing emails and malvertising, the malware impersonates trusted brands like Microsoft. In November last year, threat actors were spotted using fake AI video tools like EditPro laced with Lumma Stealer to infect Windows PCs and send data back to the hacker. Earlier this year, Microsoft identified a phishing campaign that impersonated the popular online travel agency where multiple info stealing malware including Lumma Stealer were used to conducted financial theft and fraud. The info-stealing malware, which affects popular browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox, is designed to steal information like cryptocurrency wallets, credit card details, bank account information and passwords. First discovered in 2022, Lumma Stealer is also associated with ransomware attacks, school security system breaches, and even used for stealing information or money from financial institutions. The takedown operation, conducted by Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit in coordination with numerous law enforcement agencies across the world like the U.S Department of Justice, Europol and Japan's Cybercrime Control Centre (JC3), has already seized more than 2,300 domains that acted as the backbone of Lumma's infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it seized the central command structure for Lumma and disrupted the underground marketplaces where the malware was being sold. For those wondering, Microsoft says Lumma Stealer is one of the 'leading tools' used by cybercriminals around the world to steal information and money on a large scale.
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Firefox experiments with Perplexity AI in version 139
Listen to article Mozilla Firefox is trialling the integration of the AI-powered Perplexity Search Engine within its browser, signalling a possible shift in search partnerships and how users interact with online information. First reported by Perplexity is currently live in Firefox version 139, with the test introducing a pop-up prompt within the address bar when users enter Search Mode. It offers the option to 'Try Perplexity' – positioning it as a 'new way to search in Firefox' with well-cited, conversational results. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity uses artificial intelligence to generate direct answers, complete with citations and follow-up options. This format is designed to ease information overload by avoiding endless link lists, instead offering a more dialogue-like search experience. Mozilla appears to be exploring options beyond its long-standing search deal with Google, which reportedly earns the company over $400 million annually. Although no formal agreement has been announced between Mozilla and Perplexity, the experiment reflects an openness to AI-centric alternatives. According to Windows Report, Firefox engineer Mandy Cheang is working on the implementation, referred to internally as a 'draft experiment recipe' for Firefox 139. The integration marks a notable change in strategy for Mozilla. While Firefox already supports Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Wikipedia as search options, the in-browser promotion of Perplexity suggests deeper interest in user-facing AI technology. Perplexity recently launched its own browser, Comet, to compete with Google Chrome, adding further intrigue to its potential collaboration with Mozilla. Details regarding how many users or which regions are included in the test remain unconfirmed. However, the outcome could decide whether Perplexity becomes a permanent fixture in Firefox's suite of search tools. Mozilla also plans to prompt users with updated terms of use upon startup in coming updates.
CNET
05-05-2025
- CNET
Skip AI Overviews on Google Search With This Quick Trick to Get Just Links in Results
AI Overviews in Google Search are having yet another moment. After mistakenly telling people that should at least one small rock a day for minerals last year, the AI answers are now inventing meanings for nonsensical idioms. While AI Overviews can occasionally be helpful, they're often frustrating or pull from incorrect or outdated information. If you find yourself wishing for the Google searches of old where you'd encounter a list of links, we've got good news. By configuring your Google settings, you can make sure you get only links to websites in your search results. Even better, you can get those link-based results on Google simply by searching from your browser address bar. We'll show you how to do it on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge. What is the Google Search Web filter? Google's new Web filter is similar to its filters for results like News, Images, Videos or Shopping. When the Web filter is selected, your search results will return only text-based links, with no AI summaries, videos or knowledge panels like "Top Stories" or "People Always Ask." The new filter should appear below the search box on the Google Search results page, among other filters like News, Images and Videos. You'll usually have to click the three-dot "More" menu to see it as an option. The Web filter for Google Search will usually be placed in the menu for More filters underneath the search box. Google/Screenshot by CNET Clicking the Web filter link will give you Google Search results composed entirely of text-based links, with no answers, AI or anything else. "Web" will now be underlined and highlighted in blue under the search query box. Google's Web filter removes snippets and other knowledge panels from your results. Google/Screenshot by CNET In our initial tests of Google's Web filter, we did not see any sponsored search results or other advertisements, but that filter will still return ad results for certain search queries, according to a Google spokesperson. After testing out more search terms with the Google Web filter, we were also able to see search ads for a few specific queries. How do I get Google Search Web filter results for my address bar searches? Depending on your browser, it's fairly easy to customize your browser settings so that your address bar searches go straight to the Google Web filter results. You'll need to create a custom site search shortcut in your browser and then trigger that search option with a keyword or make it your default for all searches. The critical URL that you need to remember is The "%s" represents your search query, and the "udm=14" tag limits your results to the new Web filter. Here's how to add the necessary custom site search for Google's Web filter in the four most popular web desktop browsers -- Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. If you don't want to bother with browser settings, you can always just use the website &udm=14, built by Ernie Smith of Tedium. It provides a front-end to Google Search with the necessary Web filter parameter automatically included. Google Chrome Open up a Google Chrome browser window, then click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, next to your Google account profile. Click Settings near the bottom of that menu. You can also get to your Chrome settings by entering chrome://settings in the browser address bar. Select Search engine from the left-hand column, then click "Manage search engines and site search" in the middle of the browser window. Next, scroll down to "Site search" and click the blue Add button. In the resultant pop-up window, create a name for the new search shortcut and a keyword for triggering it. We chose "Old Google" and "og." For the last field -- "URL with %s in place of query" -- enter that URL we mentioned above: Then click the blue Add button. Now when you search your address bar using "og" + your search term, you'll get results using Google's Web filter. If you'd like to make it your default search option, click the three-dot menu next to your new site search and select "Make default." After you make the new search shortcut your default search, all of your address-bar searches will use the Web filter -- no keyword needed. After you create the site search shortcut for Google's Web filter, you can make it your default search engine. Google Chrome/Screenshot by CNET Microsoft Edge The Windows browser is based on the Chromium codebase, so the steps for adding a Google Search Web filter shortcut are similar to Google Chrome. Navigate into Settings by clicking the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, then select Privacy, search, and services. Near the bottom of the following screen, select Address bar and search, then Manage search engines. Alternatively, you can navigate directly to that screen by entering edge://settings/searchEngines in your Edge address bar. Click the Add button to create your new site search shortcut. The Search engine is your name for the shortcut (I used "Old Google"), the Shortcut is the term that triggers that specific site search (I used "og"), and the URL template is the string that triggers the Google Search Web filter: Search engines in Microsoft Edge work very similarly to Google Chrome. Microsoft Edge/Screenshot by CNET To make that new Google URL your default search, go back to the Address bar and search settings page and click on the drop-down menu next to Search engine used in the address bar. Select your new custom site search, and your address bar searches will default to the Google Search Web filter. Mozilla Firefox Firefox works a little bit differently for setting up search shortcuts. Instead of using the search settings, you'll create a new bookmark with a keyword shortcut, then use that keyword in the address bar to trigger the Web filter results for Google Search. Unfortunately, Firefox doesn't let you add new search engines in its desktop version. From the Bookmarks drop-down in Firefox, select Manage Bookmarks. On the following screen, right-click on the folder in your Bookmarks where you'd like to place the shortcut, then select "Add Bookmark." (Since you'll be triggering it from the address bar, it doesn't matter where the bookmark lives.) In the following pop-up window, enter a Name (for example, "Old Google"), the URL and a Keyword (such as "og") to save the search filter as a bookmark. Hit the "Save" button, and the Google Web filter results will be available by entering your keyword before any address-bar searches. To search Google's Web filter with Mozilla Firefox, you'll need to use a bookmark with a keyword shortcut. Mozilla Firefox/Screenshot by CNET Apple Safari Safari doesn't enable custom site shortcuts by default. The only way we were able to add the Google Web filter search was by installing the free Safari extension Smart Keyword Search, which enables site search shortcuts. After installing Smart Keyword Search, the first thing you'll need to do is enable it to adjust your Google search results. Go into Settings, click Extensions at the top of the window, select Smart Keyword Search, then click on the "Edit Websites" button. On the following page, click the drop-down menu next to and select "Allow." You'll need to allow the Smart Keyword Search extension the permission to adjust Google searches. Safari/Screenshot by CNET Now close the Settings window, and click the icon for Smart Keyword Search that appears next to the Safari address bar. You'll see a pop-up window with the various "rules" the extension uses to modify searches. Click the "compose" button to start a new rule, then enter a name (such as. "Old Google"), prefix (for example, "og") and a familiar URL for the Web filter search shortcut. The Smart Keyword Search extension for Safari uses slightly different syntax. Safari/Screenshot by CNET Smart Keyword Search uses the variable "{search}" instead of "%s" to indicate a search query, so you'll need to enter a slightly different URL: Hit the "submit" button. Now entering "og" (or your selected prefix) before any searches in your address bar will return results restricted by Google's Web filter. How to restrict your Google Web searches to 'verbatim' results You can further customize your searches on Google so that the search engine only returns results based on the exact terms that you use -- not synonyms or related terms. The "verbatim" option was introduced back in 2011 and is usually accessed via the "Tools" link under most Google searches. To add a "verbatim" restriction to your Web filter shortcut, append the attribute "&tbs=li:1" to the end of your custom search URL: Any searches that you make using that new URL will now only return text-based web links for your exact search queries. For more, discover how to use Google's circle-to-search feature on the iPhone and five Google Assistant settings you need to change right now. Correction, July 2: An earlier version of this story misstated the absence of advertisements on Google Web filter results. After further testing, we were able to confirm that search ads can appear on Google Search Web filter results.
India Today
25-04-2025
- Business
- India Today
Chrome for sale? Yahoo is ready to buy, says top exec at Google monopoly trial
It is a tug of war. As Google faces a search monopoly trial against the US Department of Justice (DoJ) that could potentially force the company to sell Chrome, other companies are now showing interest in being potential buyers. Yahoo is the latest to join. A Yahoo Inc senior executive said that the company would bid for the Chrome browser if Google is forced to sell it. And according to a Bloomberg report, if Google does sell the browser, Yahoo Search's general manager, Brian Provost, believes that it could be valued at tens of billions of isn't the only company that has shown interest in buying the Chrome browser. Executives of both OpenAI and Perplexity, who had to make an appearance during the ongoing trial, expressed willingness to buy Chrome. DuckDuckGo was also subpoenaed but the company said it does not have the money to buy the Chrome browser. Yahoo's general manager said during the trial that around 60 per cent of search queries come through web browsers – often directly from the address bar. Recognising this, Provost says that Yahoo has been developing a prototype browser since last summer to explore the requirements for launching one commercially. That said, he says that the company is also in conversation to acquire an existing browser. He didn't reveal which browser it is. But he did say that acquiring the Chrome browser would be a faster route to scale, calling it 'arguably the most important strategic player on the web.' advertisement Provost says that if Yahoo is able to acquire Chrome, the company's search market share would push to double digits from the current 3 per cent. He said that while Chrome would cost tens of billions, Yahoo's parent company Apollo Global Management would help it secure the funds. If Google is required to divest Chrome, it would also need to part with the open-source Chromium platform, which underpins not only Chrome but also other browsers like Arc, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera. Google strongly opposes this move, cautioning that a new owner might start charging for Chromium or fail to maintain it properly. Such a shift, the company argues, could cause widespread disruption across the web browser ecosystem. The US DoJ, however, argues that Google's dominance in search and control over key web infrastructure could influence the competitive landscape in generative AI. Currently, Chrome isn't officially on the market, but Google's rivals are watching closely — like bidders at an auction, waiting for the hammer to fall.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Don't Want AI Overviews? How to Get 10 Plain Google Search Results
Despite a rough start back in May 2024, the AI Overviews on Google search results have become standard for many queries. Almost 50% of all Google searches are now returning AI Overviews in results, according to a December 2024 study by Search Engine Journal. While Google's AI Overviews might be beneficial if you're looking for a simple answer, they can be frustrating for users who are searching for links, not answers to questions. Luckily, there's a Google "Web" search filter that makes it possible to get only websites in your search results. Even better, you can get those link-based results on Google just by searching from your browser address bar. We'll show you how to do it on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge. Google's new Web filter is similar to its filters for results like News, Images, Videos or Shopping. When the Web filter is selected, your search results will return only text-based links, with no AI summaries, videos or knowledge panels like "Top Stories" or "People Always Ask." The new filter should appear below the search box on the Google Search results page, among other filters like News, Images and Videos. You'll usually have to click the three-dot "More" menu to see it as an option. Clicking the Web filter link will give you Google Search results composed entirely of text-based links, with no answers, AI or anything else. "Web" will now be underlined and highlighted in blue under the search query box. In our initial tests of Google's Web filter, we did not see any sponsored search results or other advertisements, but that filter will still return ad results for certain search queries, according to a Google spokesperson. After testing out more search terms with the Google Web filter, we were also able to see search ads for a few specific queries. Depending on your browser, it's fairly easy to customize your browser settings so that your address bar searches go straight to the Google Web filter results. You'll need to create a custom site search shortcut in your browser and then trigger that search option with a keyword or make it your default for all searches. The critical URL that you need to remember is The "%s" represents your search query, and the "udm=14" tag limits your results to the new Web filter. Here's how to add the necessary custom site search for Google's Web filter in the four most popular web desktop browsers -- Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. If you don't want to bother with browser settings, you can always just use the website &udm=14, built by Ernie Smith of Tedium. It provides a front-end to Google Search with the necessary Web filter parameter automatically included. Open up a Google Chrome browser window, then click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, next to your Google account profile. Click Settings near the bottom of that menu. You can also get to your Chrome settings by entering chrome://settings in the browser address bar. Select Search engine from the left-hand column, then click "Manage search engines and site search" in the middle of the browser window. Next, scroll down to "Site search" and click the blue Add button. In the resultant pop-up window, create a name for the new search shortcut and a keyword for triggering it. We chose "Old Google" and "og." For the last field -- "URL with %s in place of query" -- enter that URL we mentioned above: Then click the blue Add button. Now when you search your address bar using "og" + your search term, you'll get results using Google's Web filter. If you'd like to make it your default search option, click the three-dot menu next to your new site search and select "Make default." After you make the new search shortcut your default search, all of your address-bar searches will use the Web filter -- no keyword needed. The Windows browser is based on the Chromium codebase, so the steps for adding a Google Search Web filter shortcut are similar to Google Chrome. Navigate into Settings by clicking the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, then select Privacy, search, and services. Near the bottom of the following screen, select Address bar and search, then Manage search engines. Alternatively, you can navigate directly to that screen by entering edge://settings/searchEngines in your Edge address bar. Click the Add button to create your new site search shortcut. The Search engine is your name for the shortcut (I used "Old Google"), the Shortcut is the term that triggers that specific site search (I used "og"), and the URL template is the string that triggers the Google Search Web filter: To make that new Google URL your default search, go back to the Address bar and search settings page and click on the drop-down menu next to Search engine used in the address bar. Select your new custom site search, and your address bar searches will default to the Google Search Web filter. Firefox works a little bit differently for setting up search shortcuts. Instead of using the search settings, you'll create a new bookmark with a keyword shortcut, then use that keyword in the address bar to trigger the Web filter results for Google Search. Unfortunately, Firefox doesn't let you add new search engines in its desktop version. From the Bookmarks drop-down in Firefox, select Manage Bookmarks. On the following screen, right-click on the folder in your Bookmarks where you'd like to place the shortcut, then select "Add Bookmark." (Since you'll be triggering it from the address bar, it doesn't matter where the bookmark lives.) In the following pop-up window, enter a Name (for example, "Old Google"), the URL and a Keyword (such as "og") to save the search filter as a bookmark. Hit the "Save" button, and the Google Web filter results will be available by entering your keyword before any address-bar searches. Safari doesn't enable custom site shortcuts by default. The only way we were able to add the Google Web filter search was by installing the free Safari extension Smart Keyword Search, which enables site search shortcuts. After installing Smart Keyword Search, the first thing you'll need to do is enable it to adjust your Google search results. Go into Settings, click Extensions at the top of the window, select Smart Keyword Search, then click on the "Edit Websites" button. On the following page, click the drop-down menu next to and select "Allow." Now close the Settings window, and click the icon for Smart Keyword Search that appears next to the Safari address bar. You'll see a pop-up window with the various "rules" the extension uses to modify searches. Click the "compose" button to start a new rule, then enter a name (such as. "Old Google"), prefix (for example, "og") and a familiar URL for the Web filter search shortcut. Smart Keyword Search uses the variable "{search}" instead of "%s" to indicate a search query, so you'll need to enter a slightly different URL: Hit the "submit" button. Now entering "og" (or your selected prefix) before any searches in your address bar will return results restricted by Google's Web filter. You can further customize your searches on Google so that the search engine only returns results based on the exact terms that you use -- not synonyms or related terms. The "verbatim" option was introduced back in 2011 and is usually accessed via the "Tools" link under most Google searches. To add a "verbatim" restriction to your Web filter shortcut, append the attribute "&tbs=li:1" to the end of your custom search URL: Any searches that you make using that new URL will now only return text-based web links for your exact search queries. For more, discover how to use Google's circle-to-search feature on the iPhone and five Google Assistant settings you need to change right now. Correction, July 2: An earlier version of this story misstated the absence of advertisements on Google Web filter results. After further testing, we were able to confirm that search ads can appear on Google Search Web filter results.
