As super-informative and extremely useful as it is, the Internet of today is quite a dangerous place. It is the biggest attack surface imaginable, which is why permanent security measures and online prudence should be any web surfer’s habit. Some polemics on this subject are restricted to analyzing which browser is safer to use, comparing the capabilities of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc. to resist zero-days and other risks. This is probably a somewhat oversimplified and bat-eyed perspective. Staying safe online is in fact a matter of multiple mutually related components.
Regardless of the web browser being used, there are universal precautions helping users stay away from viruses. A lot of the problems emanate from widespread software components such as JavaScript and ActiveX. The former makes websites interactive, and the latter is mandatory for viewing graphical elements on some web pages. Both are critical user experience-wise, but they are also known to have numerous vulnerabilities which, unless patched, open up security holes and might get exploited by cybercriminals to drop malicious code on the system. So the associated tip is to keep this sort of auxiliary software up to date, which basically means opting into the updates when prompted. Likewise, it’s strongly advised to keep track of browser version updates and not miss them when they are rolled out.
Not too many users tend to toggle their browser’s privacy and security settings, leaving the default configuration unaltered. It’s a good idea, though, to play around with these preferences and uncheck some of them. For instance, blocking third-party cookies could be a judicious thing to do as this will prevent unauthorized online activity tracking.
Potentially unwanted add-ons, or web service enhancements, represent a whole standalone attack vector. Unfortunately, it’s a piece of cake these days to install an adware program disguised as a regular browser extension. Some open source software is distributed along with bundled entities like the infamous Delta Homes app, which modify browsing preferences and other features without the user’s consent, resulting in traffic redirects and the injection of ads into visited pages. So, avoiding suspicious add-ons is another recommendation that should be kept in mind.
Furthermore, reliable Internet security suites are great instruments for online safety provision. They accommodate invaluable features like two-way firewall, real-time malware blocking and reputation-based URL blacklisting. Combining the use of such software and the simple tips highlighted above will keep the average user on the safe side.
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