Internet Browsers

The browser is the window to the online world. Browsers are the primary method and the most used software on your computer to interact with the Internet. You use the browser for social media, maps, news, online banking, and searching for any and all types of information, but at the same time the majority of online threats come from the Internet as well. This makes browsers a target for cyber criminals to attempt to steal our data or personal information. The most used browsers are Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

Tips for safe browser use:

• Pay attention to website addresses: Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the address may use a variation in spelling or a different domain.
• PayPal site:
• https://www.paypal.com = good
• https://www.paypal.kom = bad
• https://www.paypally.com = bad
• Traveling to England:
• http://www.england.com = good
• http://www.englund.com = bad
• http://www.england.cass = bad

• Keeping browsers updated . Browsers are constantly being patched and fixing known vulnerabilities, but also adding new security features. Always having the latest version is one of the best ways to help secure your browser and your system. How to update your browser, below is information for your use.
• Internet Explorer is updated via the Windows Update service of your Window system.
• Chrome automatically updates whenever it detects that a new version of the browser is available.
• Firefox to set auto-updating: Tools – Setting – Advanced – Update tab – turn on auto updates.
• Safari to set auto-updating: System Preferences - Software Updates – Preferences - turn on auto updates

• Add-ons (also called plug-ins). Add-ons are other software programs that interact with the browser, the most common add-ons are Java and Flash Player. The more add-ons a browser has installed, the greater the attack surface increases. Add-ons come with their own set of vulnerabilities. We want to ensure that whatever add-ons we have installed our always current and up to date. where are the plugins? Below is information for your browser.

• List Internet Explorer add-ons: open browser - Tools – Manage add-ons
• List Chrome plug-ins: open browser - chrome://plugins/
• List Firefox add-ons: open browser - Tools – Add-ons
• List Safari plug-ins: open browser - Help – Installed Plug-Ins

• Downloading from the web. Always make sure that anything you download is something you wanted to download and from a legitimate web site. Do not accept or agree to download something from a pop up window. Below is an example of a fake pop-up window that is informing you that your computer has errors and you should click fix errors button. However your computer does not have errors and by clicking on the fix errors button it will install a virus/malware that will really cause errors on your computer.

Secure your online transactions (https://) Look in the address box for the "s" in https:// before any transaction. That “s” tells you that the site is taking extra measures to help secure your information.

The link below is a free add-on/plug-in from Qualys security to check and verify your home browser and add-ons/plug-ins are up to date. It will install an add-on/plug-in for your browser and allow you to run the browser check whenever you want.
Qualys's Browser Check.....Qualys Rocks!!!!

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