While you're waiting for the next testing build of Firefox 3.0, make sure and keep the good old Firefox 2.0 up to date. On March 15, 2008, Mozilla made available Firefox 2.0.0.13 for download. The latest iteration of version 2.x of the open source browser is designed as a security and stability update. Along with Firefox 2.0.0.13, Mozilla is also offering Firefox 3.0 Beta 4, which it has deemed as ready for general adoption, and is also cooking Firefox 3.0 Beta 5, currently planned for the end of March.

"As part of Mozilla Corporation's ongoing stability and security update process, Firefox 2.0.0.13 is now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux for free. We strongly recommend that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest release. If you already have Firefox 2.x, you will receive an automated update notification within 24 to 48 hours. This update can also be applied manually by selecting "Check for Updates…" from the Help menu. If you are still running Firefox 1.5.0.x, you are highly encouraged to upgrade to the Firefox 2 series as Mozilla ceased supporting Firefox 1.5.0.x in May 2007," reads the announcement from Mozilla.

Firefox 2.0.0.13 patches no less than half a dozen security vulnerabilities, two of which have been labeled with the maximum severity rating of Critical. Firefox 2.0.0.12 was vulnerable to arbitrary remote code execution through a JavaScript privilege escalation hole, and displayed signs of memory corruption via several bugs in the open source browser's engine. There are an additional two vulnerabilities rated as Important, namely XUL popup spoofing variant (cross-tab popups) and Java socket connection to any local port via LiveConnect. The remaining couple of security flaws were labeled as Moderate and Low from a risk perspective.

Firefox 3.0 Beta 4 and 2.0.0.13 can be downloaded from here.