Open Source web browsers are causing untold damage to businesses around the globe, according to Microsoft security specialist David Keppelmeyer.

Keppelmeyer believes the sudden rise in popularity of browsers such as Firefox competing for Internet Explorer's market share is not only an attack upon Microsoft, but is directly "squeezing more attacks upon IE users."

"What we're seeing is a shifting of percentages across the board" says Keppelmeyer. As he explains it, it's a numbers game. As the number of open source browsers such as Firefox rise, then there are relatively fewer Internet Explorer users left to bear the brunt of the existing malware such as spyware, viruses and worms.

"You have to ask yourself 'what are the motives here?' Why would you switch to a platform that doesn't provide you with rich media content such as ActiveX and Windows Media Player?".

Keppelmeyer claims that the authors of malicious software use open source browsers to protect themselves from their creations. While Keppelmeyer says "not all open source users are necessarily creating malicious software", all who adopt it for regular use are changing the arena in which attacks are carried out.

"The end result is more attacks directly on Microsoft Internet Explorer users. Since open source browsers can't compete with Internet Explorer in the realm of features, they are attempting to undergrow our market share, making each IE user more likely to be attacked by the greater relative numbers of viruses, worms and malicious trojans".

"That's an underhanded, abhorrent tactic."

"If you are a business that uses Internet Explorer and other businesses are using Firefox, when the next worm hits it's you that suffers. That's directly the fault of Firefox adopters. In effect other businesses who have switched have squeezed more attacks your way".