Blake Ross, Firefox creator June 14, 2006

Blake Ross, a 20-year-old software developer who has been called "Microsoft's worst nightmare," works on the Mozilla web browsers, alternative free web browsers that cut out pop-ups and elude viruses. Inspired by his mother's inability to surf online, Ross started the Mozilla Firefox project with Dave Hyatt and the Spread Firefox project with Asa Dotzler while working as a contractor at the Mozilla Foundation, a software provider to the international open source community. His goal was to create "a simple, fast browser designed for people who don't like or understand computers."

In 2005, Ross was nominated for "Wired" magazine's top Rave Award, Renegade of the Year, opposite Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Jon Stewart. He was also named to "Rolling Stone" magazine's 2005 hot list.

Ross was hired to work as an intern at Netscape Communications Corporation at the age of 15 while attending Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida. He graduated in 2003 and is currently on leave from the undergraduate program at Stanford University. He is the author of "Firefox For Dummies," published January 2006.

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