Browser Security Settings for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer: Cybersecurity 101

Nate Lord By

March 22, 2013

Optimizing your browser's settings is a critical step in using the Internet deeply and privately. Today'southward popular browsers include congenital-in security features, but users often fail to optimize their browser's security settings on installation. Failing to correctly gear up your browser's security features can put you at a higher take chances for malware infections and malicious attacks. This installation of our "Cybersecurity 101" serial provides our tips for securing several of today's almost popular browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Cyberspace Explorer. While it is incommunicable to guarantee complete protection from cyber threats, following these tips will profoundly increment the security of your spider web browser.

Tips for Secure Browsing with Google Chrome

Chrome Settings for Private and Secure Web BrowsingThese settings tin exist accessed through Chrome'southward "Advanced Settings" menu or by navigating to "chrome://settings/."

  • Enable phishing and malware protection: Brand sure that Chrome'south phishing and malware protection characteristic is enabled under the "Privacy" department. This feature will warn yous if a site you're trying to visit may exist phishing or contain malware.
  • Turn off instant search: The Instant search feature should be turned off for optimal security. While information technology offers some convenience in searching, having this feature enabled means that anything you type in the address bar is instantly sent to Google.
  • Don't sync: Disconnect your electronic mail account from your browser under the "Personal Stuff" tab. Syncing your email business relationship with your Chrome browser means that personal information such as passwords, autofill data, preferences, and more is stored on Google's servers. If you must apply sync, select the "Encrypt all synced data" pick and create a unique passphrase for encryption.
  • Configure content settings: Click "Content settings" nether the "Privacy" department and do the following:
    • Cookies: Select "Go along local data only until I quit my browser" and "Block third-party cookies and site data." These options ensure that your cookies will be deleted upon quitting Chrome and that advertisers volition not be able to track you using third-party cookies.
    • JavaScript: Select "Do not allow any site to run JavaScript." It is widely recommended that JavaScript exist disabled whenever possible to protect users from its security vulnerabilities.
    • Pop-ups: Select "Practice not allow any site to testify popular-ups.
    • Location: Select "Do not allow any site to track my physical location."
  • Configure passwords and forms settings: Disable Autofill and deselect "Offer to save passwords I enter on the web" under the "Passwords and forms" section. Doing so will prevent Chrome from saving your logins, passwords, and other sensitive information that you lot enter into forms.

Tips for Secure Browsing with Mozilla Firefox

firefox-privacy-settingsThese settings can be accessed through the "Options" carte du jour.

  • Configure privacy settings: Nether the "Privacy" tab, complete the following steps. These measures ensure that Firefox is storing only as much of your data as it needs to function normally.
    • Select "Use custom settings for history."
    • Deselect "Remember my browsing and download history."
    • Deselect "Remember search and form history."
    • Deselect "Take third-party cookies."
    • Set cookie storage to "Keep until I shut Firefox."
    • Select "Clear history when Firefox closes."
  • Configure security settings: Under the "Security" tab, choose the following settings. These steps foreclose Firefox from saving your passwords and go along you from visiting potentially harmful sites.
    • Verify that "Warn me when sites endeavor to install add-ons," "Block reported attack sites," and "Cake reported web forgeries" are all selected.
    • Deselect "Remember passwords for sites."
  • Disable javaScript: Deselect "Enable JavaScript" nether the "Content" tab. JavaScript is notorious for containing security vulnerabilities and it is recommended that users only enable information technology for trusted sites.
  • Enable popular-upwardly blocking: Verify that "Block pop-up windows" is selected under the "Content" tab. This feature should be turned on by default as it protects users from unwarranted advertisements and windows.
  • Don't sync: Avoid using Firefox Sync. By doing then you prevent Firefox from storing your logins, passwords, and other sensitive information.
  • Turn on automatic updates: Verify that "Automatically install updates" is selected in the "Update" tab under "Avant-garde." Doing so will ensure that your browser receives critical security updates. Verify that "Automatically update Search Engines" is selected too.
  • Use secure protocols: Verify that "Use SSL 3.0" and "Utilize TLS one.0" are selected in the "Encryption" tab under "Advanced."

Tips for Secure Browsing with Microsoft Internet Explorer 10

internet-explorer-privacyThese settings can be accessed through the "Net Options" card.

  • Configure security settings: Under the "Security" tab, practise the following:
    • Set security zones: IE offers the option to configure dissimilar security settings for dissimilar "zones," including the Internet, local intranet, trusted sites, and restricted sites. Fix the zones for Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted sites to your desired security level.
    • Set up Internet zone security to "Medium High" or higher. This blocks sure cookie types, enables ActiveX filtering, and implements several other default settings for increased security.
    • Disable javaScript: Click "Custom Level," locate the "Active Scripting" setting, and select "Disable." It is recommended that users disable JavaScript because of the high amount of vulnerabilities it contains.
  • Automatically articulate history: Select "Delete browsing history on exit" under the "Full general" tab. Clearing your history at the end of each session helps to limit the amount of information IE saves when you browse.
  • Configure privacy settings: Under the "Privacy" tab, complete the following steps:
    • Privacy setting: Set the Internet zone privacy to "Medium High" or higher. This blocks certain cookie types to forbid sites from tracking or contacting you without your consent.
    • Location: Select "Never allow websites to request your physical location."
    • Pop-upwardly Blocker: Double cheque that Pop-upward Blocker is enabled.
  • Configure Advanced Security settings: Coil down to the "Security" department under the "Avant-garde" tab and practise the following:
    • Ensure that all default settings are in place. If you aren't certain, click "Restore advanced settings" before making any other changes.
    • Select "Do not save encrypted pages to disk." This volition delete files cached from HTTPS pages when the browser is closed.
    • Select "Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed." This prevents IE from storing your personal info (logins, passwords, activity, etc) beyond your browsing session.
    • Turn off autoComplete: The AutoComplete characteristic should be turned off for forms and usernames/passwords. Keeping AutoComplete turned off ensures that your sensitive data isn't being stored unnecessarily.
  • Tracking protection: IE's Tracking Protection feature keeps your browsing individual from specified 3rd-party websites. This feature can be accessed through IE'southward "Safety" carte. In club to use Tracking Protection you will need to provide a Tracking Protection List that names all of the sites you don't desire your data beingness sent to. You can create a list yourself or download lists online.

Which is the Most Secure Browser?

Nominating one browser as the most secure is difficult. Since each browser is regularly updated with security patches, the rankings for nigh secure browser could change at any fourth dimension. As of today, Veracode recommends Google Chrome as the almost secure browser.

Cybersecurity 101 Series

  • Tips for Secure Web Browsing
  • Mutual Malware Types
  • Browser Security Settings for Chrome, Firefox and Net Explorer
  • Facebook Privacy
  • Common Mobile Malware Types

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Nate joined Veracode as a marketing specialist in early 2012. He is 1 of Veracode's beginning co-ops from Northeastern University, where he is majoring in entrepreneurship and new venture management while minoring in music. He has diverse responsibilities at Veracode, including blogging, SEO, and infographic pattern.