Government dissidents like to keep their plans a secret, particularly in countries with poor human-rights efforts. But the folks at Mozilla may be inadvertently helping those dissidents out when it sent a cease-and-desist letter Tuesday to a European company that makes spyware, the UK’s PC Advisor reports.

Computer-security researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab discovered that the spyware FinSpy was making itself look a whole lot like Mozilla’s Firefox browser. When recipients downloaded the file, the data on the computer became accessible to an external user as well as the ability to watch and listen to the computer’s user through the machine’s camera and microphone. Citizen Lab found that FinSpy “is being used in a number of countries with poor human rights records and has been used to target activists.” 

FinSpy is owned by the UK’s Gamma Group, which is now the recipient of a letter from Mozilla asking the company to stop disguising its product as Firefox. Citizen Lab reports that FinSpy doesn’t just make itself look like Firefox; it actually “makes use of Mozilla's trademark and code.”Continue reading...

Microsoft is in a heap of trouble with the European Union. After agreeing in 2009 that it would let Windows users choose other Web browsers than its Internet Explorer, Microsoft didn’t deliver on its promise and now has been fined $733 million, the AP reports. This is on top of the $1.1 billion the company had already been fined at the time.

As if the sticker shock wasn't enough, the tipoff to the EU that Microsoft wasn’t doing the right thing was done by none other than Google and a Norwegian browser maker, Opera, according to the Financial Times. Ouch. Opera was actually the company that filed the first complaint about all this back in 2007, so it’s no surprise to see that brand back battling Microsoft, ZDNet points out.  Continue reading...

As Microsoft released its new version of the Bing search engine today, it was another browser move that caused a flap. While potentially a win for Microsoft's brand, its consumer-first decision to embed 'Do Not Track' functionality in version 10 of its Internet Explorer browser in Windows 8 — with a default setting in the 'on' position — is "strongly" opposed by the Association of National Advertisers.Continue reading...

What's the darling of the Internet doing advertising on conventional television? Pitching its browser to the masses.

Google, the company whose name has literally become a verb in the world of online search (as in "to Google") wants the public to know it is more than search — it also offers an Internet browser, branded Chrome.

In its biggest offline campaign ever, according to the New York Times, Google is actively engaging in the browser wars, attempting to chip away at Microsoft's commanding lead.Continue reading...

Apple's Steve Jobs re-elected to Disney board despite health concerns.

Bank of America cautioned by the Federal Reserve.

Coca-Cola wraps up Maroon 5 24-hour crowdsourcing experiment.

Firefox 4 downloads eclipse Internet Explorer 9.

Groupon CEO disputes ComScore traffic figures. 

Gucci sponsors Grammy's music preservation program.Continue reading...

Amazon Appstore for Android goes live (despite Apple lawsuit over its name) with free Angry Birds Rio download.

AOL reportedly shutters 30 of its web brands to fold into existing Huffington Post verticals.

Firefox 4 passes 1 million downloads in less than three hours, in race to beat Internet Explorer 9's 2 million in two days and eventual 25 million downloads.

Google loses $125 million Google Books settlement.

Howard Stern is suing Sirius XM over compensation.

HSBC is reportedly eyeing a $22 million CEO paycheck this year.Continue reading...

Foursquare's new updates will be revealed during the SXSW conference. [TechCrunch]

Internet Explorer needs a makeover to keep up with competing browsers. [NY Times]

Panasonic Corp and Best Buy stores are set to market a 3D television. [Reuters]

The Nissan Cube is perfectly packaged to be marketed for younger drivers. [Boston Herald]

The 'Alice in Wonderland' opening has given Disney a gift of $210 million. [LA Times]

Auto brands are intimidated by the power of the #recall hashtag. [Washington Post]Continue reading...

MetLife is in final negotiations to purchase AIG. [WSJ]

AMC purchases Kerasotes Showplace Theatres. [LA Times]

Verizon raises termination fee. [Washington Post]

Motorola launches a rewards program for loyal customers. [AdWeek]

Toyota seeks out lithium battery supply in Argentina. [WSJ]

Citigroup experiences a fourth-quarter $7.6 billion loss. [CNN Money]Continue reading...