How make your browser safe and secure?

Browsers are the most exposed and information rich software. If a malicious hacker manages to break in, he can find out anything about you - like address, credit card data, emails, passwords, browsing history, bookmarks etc. But, which is the most secure Web browser? Google Chrome? Mozilla Firefox? Microsoft's Internet Explorer?

A web browser, commonly referred to as a browser, is a software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web (WWW). A web browser is not the same thing as a search engine, though the two are often confused. Each individual web page, image, and video is identified by a distinct URL, enabling browsers to retrieve and display them on the user's device.

The first web browser, called WorldWideWeb, was invented in 1990 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. He then recruited Nicola Pellow to write the Line Mode Browser, which displayed web pages on dumb terminals; it was released in 1991.

Today's most popular browsers are Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer, and Edge.

As per NSS Labs research, there is no single browser uniformly protected users against the majority of security threats and privacy risks.

So, the next best thing is to make your favorite browser is as secure as possible. Here are few things that enhance the security of your browser -

Keep your browser updated

It is very important to keep your browsers and plug-ins always up to date with latest security patches. Update solved the latest discovered security holes.

Security and privacy settings

Review your browser's privacy and security settings to make sure you're comfortable with what's checked or unchecked. For specific browser security and privacy settings are different, so must be conscious about that.

Sign up for alerts

Consider setting up Google alerts for your browser to stay current on any emerging security issues. If you use Internet Explorer, for example, create a Google Alert using the keywords Internet Explorer security, or something similar. You can opt to receive instant, daily or weekly alerts whenever news articles or other content relevant to that topic hits the Web.

Be cautious with plug-ins

Plug-ins and extensions can sometimes put you at risk. For instance, earlier this year, it was discovered that some Chrome extensions can change service or ownership without notification to users. As a result, Chrome’s regulations for extensions is changing this to keep extensions from becoming anything other than “simple and single-purpose in nature,” according to Google.

Install an antivirus software

Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) can slip past when you install any sort of software. These little buggers can switch browsers on you without warning and you might never even notice. Keeping a reputable antivirus program to keep PUP from hijacking your browser and ruining your day.

Install security plug-ins

The majority of plug-ins and extensions are safe, however, and some can help bolster your browser’s security. Here are three suggested and free browser extensions for added security - HTTPS Everywhere, Web of Trust, LongURL.org.

Use HTTPS

You should always check the URL of a website to make sure that it has the “https://” or a padlock icon. This is your confirmation that the website you are using is protected by a reasonable layer of encryption.

Clear browser history

Cookies, are merely files that keep track of all the websites you have visited recently. In fact, cookies are a prime victim for the cyberattacker. Those cookie files which contain passwords and confidential information/data are most at risk. So, clear your browsing activity as well as your cookie files.

Don't save passwords in the browser

Nearly all modern web browsers and many websites, in general, offer auto-complete functionality. Enabling this feature stores your passwords in one location on your computer, making them more accessible for a Cyber attacker to discover if your system gets compromised. If you have this feature enabled, disable it and clear your stored passwords.

Block Pop-ups

Pop-ups are often forms of online advertising intended to attract web traffic or capture email addresses. Pop-ups open new web browser windows to display advertisements. While many pop-ups and emails from reputable companies are safe, the adware programs that generate illegitimate malware pop-ups and malware spam can install spyware to hijack your browser and capture your personal information. It is highly recommended that you disable popups either through your browsers configurations or by installing an efficient browser extension.

Use VPN

VPN or Virtual Private Network technology allows anyone to use a public network to connect to a private network securely. VPN encrypts all your Internet traffic. As a result, all of your information and data will be made that much more secure.

Find more steps to secure your browser in Geekboots.tech