NetCraft announces an unexpected success of its solution for preventing phishing type attacks, launched last week.

The respective toolbar blocks the user's access to sites known for their phishing type attacks, through which hackers acquire sensitive information regarding those users mistaking that site for an original one. The toolbar was available in an Internet Explorer-compatible version, and now it exists as an accessory to FireFox.

In just several hours from its release, the toolbar has been downloaded over 60,000 times, says Paul Mutton, representing Netcraft Internet Services Developer. Its success can only be considered an astounding one, compared to the similar solution compatible with Internet Explorer, which has been downloaded only 100,000 times, although it has been available since the beginning of the year. It's probably because Internet Explorer has enough security problems, and the users were not likely to try and patch up the situation with an anti-phishing toolbar.

Out of all the dangers lurking on the Internet, phishing seems to be the most threatening and prevalent one lately. The increasing number of attacks and the hackers' permanently developing methods have lead to important financial losses and will continue to do so in the future.

Phishing implies the sending of an e-mail message, apparently from a legitimate company, thus attempting the theft of personal information. Based on this information, bank accounts can be drained or other problems inflicted, through the use of the person's stolen identity.