Safe Surfing
Foreword
This article provides useful tool to protect you from online. Browser security is a part of online security, that focused on browsers that is used by us to connect and do more on online, such as social media, communication, purchase and more. It is important to protect browser because most of the vulnerability directly enter through browsers.
Introduction
Millions of attacks on every day
In 2012 alone, the number of browser-based attacks was 1,595,587,670. On average. (Ref:2)
Generally online threats take the form of viruses, rootkits, worms, spyware, malware, phishing, adware, Trojan horse, ransomware and application hijackers such as browsers.
Help of above listed malicious tools or code hackers get in to our PC through browsers or email and steal our passwords, credit cards, bank logins, lock your data and demand a ransom to get it back and crash your PC.
In this article we will be looking to strengthen browser security using Browser’s built in features and add on tools that can be followed by general users.
Browser
Web browser is a small program that user can access to go to internet. Browsers are gateway of internet.
There are number of web browsers available today.
● Mozilla Firefox
● Chrome
● Safari
● Internet Explorer/ Microsoft Edge
● Opera
● Tor
● Many More
Browsers are chosen by user for their comfort and requirements, Generally Firefox considered as a safe and fast browser by millions of people, Chrome is good for customized usage, if you know how to use chrome then its better browser to use, chrome and internet explorers are used by millions and it is provide better security and need customization.
Advanced users prefer to use TOR browser due to privacy.
Protect Your Browser:
1. Keep browser up to date, browsers updates are available regular basis to protect from recent threats, so keep updating browser is important.
2. Use 64 Bit web browser, Enables greater protection. Some of browsers have 64-bit versions, such as Microsoft Edge and chrome.
3. Deactivate below functions where possible.
Flash, ActiveX and Java script. (some functions on web may not function when you deactivate)
4. Use browser tools such as https, last pass, DuckduckGo and more tools available for privacy and data security.
5. Configure browser privacy settings
For Microsoft Edge: Under settings_Advanced settings
Browser Tools
AdBlock
It is popular AdBlock tool and available for most of the familiar browsers.
Blocks adds in Facebook, YouTube and everywhere in web, below settings allow you to customize and balance the browsing with adds and advanced features.
HTTPS Everywhere:
https everywhere is the web browser tool and supports chrome, Firefox and opera. https Everywhere will help you to secure the connection between your browser and the servers it is connecting. It helps to encrypt your connection when possible, HTTPS Everywhere even helps to protect against hacking tools such as Fire sheep.
LastPass:
LastPass is allowing to save your passwords and give you secure access from all your device. Remember only master password to save your user name and password in to LastPass and it will auto log your websites, Apps and Lync whenever you need it.
LastPass allows you to easily generate a complicated and hard-to-crack password that is unique to a site. LastPass has plugins available for every browser.
LastPass additional features:
● sharing with family and friends: password, photo vault and note can be easily shared also allow to send private notes to contacts.
● Supports Multi Factor authentication
● Password generator, generates secure and customized passwords
● Password audit: audit the password strength with LastPass security – Audit the password strength and generate password to change weak one.
● Secure password storage available online or offline
Disconnect:
Disconnect stop the website that track user, nowadays hundreds of companies that track people’s online activity and capture their information. But there’s a huge disconnect between how people’s data is being used, sold, or shared, and what they may want. Disconnect formula is that, the people should have the freedom to move about the Internet – and their lives – without anyone tracking and looking.
DuckDuckGo:
DuckduckGo go is a search engine that doesn’t tracks you, it never uses cookies and any personal information. Even user IP address is hidden. Its protect your search history from anyone.
Conclusion:
Online safety is important that protects our assets such as Intellectual properties – data, electronic financial transactions, social media and much more.
Few simple procedures and tools keep us away from security threats. Few methods and tools tested and listed in this document that can be used by general users.
Reference
1. https://www.avast.com/c-online-threats
2. https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/web
3. https://www.us-cert.gov/publications/securing-your-web-browser#why
4. https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere