A series of tests designed to measure the level of password security for browsers produced results indicative of the actual insecurity delivered by Internet Explorer 7, Google Chrome 1.0, Opera 9.62, Firefox 3.0.4 and Safari 3.2. Chapin Information Services has thrown all browsers against a set of 21 tests, and none fared that well. In fact, the highest score obtained involves passing just seven testes out of the 21 items. The lowest, and there are two browsers that failed 19 tests, is synonymous with “acing” just a couple of tests.

“Google's new web browser may be fast and slim, but the password management features it offers are full of bugs. Chapin Information Services (CIS) reported critical vulnerabilities in this software during its beta period, all of which were unfixed at release time,” CIS noted indicating that the user is at risk because in Chrome “the destination where passwords are sent is not checked. The location where passwords are requested is not checked. Invisible form elements can trigger password management”.

Google Chrome along with Safari 3.2 are the bottom feeders of the password security ranking. Both browsers failed a total of 19 tests. Next in line in terms of insecurity is Internet Explorer 7, which only failed 16 tests. The top two browsers when it comes down to protecting passwords are Opera 9.62 and Firefox 3.0.4. Firefox and Opera failed just 14 tests. However, in addition to the three password security problems enumerated for Chrome, CIS has detected another 17, all problems that survived in the product past the Beta stage.

“Safari 3.2 for Windows and Chrome are essentially tied for the worst password manager built into a major web browser. 3rd-party applications and plugins that were tested in July also tended to score very low overall, but still offered more inherent security than either Safari or Chrome,” CIS noted.

Google Chrome is available for download here.

Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 2 is available for download here.

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Windows is available here.

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Linux is available here.

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 for Mac OS X is available here.

Opera 10.0 Alpha 1 for Windows is available for download here.

Opera 10.0 Alpha 1 for Linux is available for download here.

Opera 10.0 Alpha 1 for Mac OS X is available for download here.