Page II: After eight months of rapid growth, Firefox approaches its 1.0 release with new challenges in converting IE users.
Perhaps more significant drivers of the browser's growth have been Explorer's chronic security problems and Microsoft's discontinuation of standalone IE development.
But analysts question how long Firefox can rely on either its feature set or its comparatively good security reputation to drive adoption.
With the browser war long declared in Microsoft's favour, few Web measurement firms formally study browser market share. But one Web analysis company reports that earlier this summer IE maintained a huge majority of the market, dipping marginally to 94.16 percent in July from 95.48 percent in June.
And though Microsoft has stuck with its decision not to release updated versions of standalone IE, its recent release of the Windows Security Pack 2 combines security safeguards with a pop-up blocker.
Not only has Mozilla endured its own share of security problems, but those will likely increase in frequency and severity as Firefox becomes more popular.
"Microsoft's security woes regarding IE have to be taken in context," said Ross Rubin, analyst with The NPD Group. "Like Windows itself, much of the reason that IE is a target is due to its immense popularity."
That dynamic could lead Firefox into a paradox, as growth wrecks the comparative obscurity that gave it cover from malicious hackers and security researchers and stoked its growth to begin with.
"The irony is that the more popular ... software is, the more it is a target for abuse," Rubin said. That "makes savvy users want to seek out alternatives, which spurs popularity."
Getting into fighting shape
Even as Firefox downloads strain its servers, Mozilla has taken action on both the security and marketing fronts.
15%
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