Mozilla Enhances Firefox Security With New Chief Officer's Expertise

Mozilla Corp. has hired a former Microsoft security strategist to help secure its open-source software, particularly its Firefox browser. Window Snyder, whose hiring was announced last week, takes the title of "Chief Security Something" -- that's a working title, and not all that unusual for a company headed by someone who once held the title of "Chief Lizard Wrangler" -- said she has big plans for the group's development efforts.

"We want to reduce the overall risk [to Firefox] by evaluating where there are unused features, and then getting rid of that old code," said Snyder. While at Microsoft, Snyder was responsible for security sign-offs on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. Prior to Mozilla's hiring, she was with Matasano Security, a New York City-based company she founded after leaving Microsoft. Before working for the Redmond, Wash. developer, Snyder was one of the founding team members for the @stake hacking-group-turned-consultancy, which Symantec acquired in 2004. "We want Firefox to have a tighter code base, and fewer entry points into the system," Snyder said.

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