How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks

by **SlyckScratch** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:47 pm

Summary

This paper will help you configure your web browser for safer internet surfing. It is written for
home computer users, students, small business workers, and any other person who works with
limited information technology (IT) support and broadband (cable modem, DSL) or dial-up
connectivity. Although the information in this document may be applicable to users with formal
IT support as well, organizational IT policies should supersede these recommendations.

Why Secure Your Web Browser?

Today, web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari (to name a few), are
installed on almost all computers. Because web browsers are used so frequently, it is vital to
configure them securely. Often, the web browser that comes with an operating system is not set
up in a secure default configuration. Not securing your web browser can lead quickly to a variety
of computer problems caused by anything from spyware being installed without your knowledge
to intruders taking control of your computer.
Ideally, computer users should evaluate the risks from the software they use. Many computers
are sold with software already loaded. Whether installed by a computer manufacturer, operating
system maker, internet service provider, or by a retail store, the first step in assessing the
vulnerability of your computer is to find out what software is installed and how one program will
interact with another. Unfortunately, it is not practical for most people to perform this level of
analysis.

http://www.astalavista.com/media/directory/uploads/97fe9b5f3e1c812496fae16faf1c6b2b.pdf

Guide by:

Will Dormann and Jason Rafail
CERT Coordination Center

by **chicken_boo** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:28 pm

Good stuff, they should make guides like this compulsory reading for new computer users. After I made the switch to Firefox a while back I used a similar guide to secure Internet Explorer but there were still a few things mentioned here that I hadn't picked up on, especially to do with Firefox itself.

by **Mrs. 2p** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:14 am

hmmhmmm... sticky?

I'm tempted.. but 10 stickies is a tad over the hill, ain't it?

by **irish** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:24 am

I offer my post of IE7 to be unstickied and this to be stickied :wink:

edit . excellent guide thanks for the link Scratch

by **LaX** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:06 am

irish, dont be so modest. Your ie7 review was great. It was as unbiased as possible and thats pretty hard to find now.

This is great. Though its pretty long, I skimmed through it and looks like a great guide.

Tech/Software does have a lot of stickies. But this one is probably worth it.

by **Mrs. 2p** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:09 am

[quote"HouseCrowd"]sod it![/quote]

you oughtn't be so modest, scratch! :wink:

thanks for offering, irish. Maybe at a later date... we have known both to sticky and unsticky threads in the past.

by **LxBeast** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:23 am

Nice.

There's a couple of things I forgot to do on fresh reformat..

The NoScript extension for FF may also be of use for the safety conscious.

(Only permitting trusted sites to use Java/script/etc).

Mrs. 2p wrote:hmmhmmm... sticky? I'm tempted.. but 10 stickies is a tad over the hill, ain't it?

You could always resort to grouping the (similar/related) stickied threads..

Sticky title - Browser Related (...)

How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks - SlyckScratch
(Quote/summary of topic)

ie7 - a firefox user's point of view - irish
(Quote/summary of topic)

FireFox: Fix Your Own Extensions - Unbiased_Opinion
(Quote/summary of topic)

Sticky title - Secured & Connected (...)

How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks - SlyckScratch (Could go in either subject..

)
(Quote/summary of topic)

Free Personal Firewalls - OhMyGod
(Quote/summary of topic)

Router And Firewall Port Forwarding - lordfoul
(Quote/summary of topic)

Protowall and Blocklist Manager Guide - miner
(Quote/summary of topic)

Autopatcher XP - lordfoul
(Quote/summary of topic)

Service Pack 2 Connection Fix - OhMyGod
(Quote/summary of topic)

Spyware Removal Guide - redduck
(Quote/summary of topic)

Sticky title - (...)

How to change the Aspect Ratio of an .iso file - SlyckScratch
(Quote/summary of topic)

Meh..

@ irish, you have no say in the matter. IT STAYS. *Insert evil laugh*

by **Mrs. 2p** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:26 am

that's a great idea! I might get down to that tomorrow, if I find the time!

by **Orochimaru** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:01 pm

I can't watch the .PDF it seems to be corrupt after downloading it!

by **chicken_boo** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:47 pm

Looks like they changed the location of the file, here's the updated link:

http://www.astalavista.com/media/directory06/uploads/97fe9b5f3e1c812496fae16faf1c6b2b.pdf

It should open up fine in your browser.

by **Rich45** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:45 pm

There is the new Eraser browser, that claims to leave no traces on your PC:
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php

by **TcE** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:36 pm

haha they did change the link nice post with new linky

How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks

How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks

Re: How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks

Re: How to Secure Your Web Browser from Attacks

Who is online