Securing Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer implements almost all of the scripting languages, along with its proprietary technologies—ActiveX and VBScript. It is the most widely used browser with over 54 percent of the browser market. In order to secure this web browser, follow these steps.
Click on Tools ->Internet Options -> Security tab.
On the Security tab, you will find four icons, Internet, Local intranet, Trusted sites, Restricted sites. You can set the security levels for each of these options. The most important of them is Internet. You can either put the level of security to High, which will give maximum protection from executable code, or use Custom level in order to specify what to do and what not to.
Additionally, you can add certain websites to the list of trusted websites by clicking on the Trusted sites icon.
Click on Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy tab.
On the privacy tab, you have the cookie handling functionality. You will see a button labeled Advanced that will help you override the default cookie handling. It also contains the Pop-up Blocker, which will disallow any unwanted pop-ups.
On the Advanced tab of Internet Options dialog box, you have various security settings. Here, you have a section titled Security that shows a range of settings you can modify.
Securing Mozilla Firefox
In the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, you have a Firefox button on the top that gives access to settings. On all previous versions, you can press the Alt button on the keyboard to get access to the main menu of Firefox, and then click on Tools -> Options to open the settings dialog box.
The dialog box contains the Security and Privacy tabs that have various security settings. Under the Privacy tab, you can remove all or individual cookies set by websites. Under the Security tab, you have the settings for blocking add-on installations, remembering passwords, etc. JavaScript and pop-blocker settings are found under the Content tab. Clicking on the Advanced button here helps you manage JavaScript advanced options. Pop-up blocker is enabled in Firefox by default; you can add exceptions with the pop-blocker Exceptions button.
In the latest versions of Firefox, the main security functionality comes with the website button on the Awesome bar (the address bar of Firefox). The Awesome bar tells you if the website is trustable as soon as you open it.
Click on the button at the beginning of the Awesome bar and then click on More Information. This opens a settings dialog box associated with the specific website you are browsing. Under this, you will find a tab named Permissions; here, you can set various properties associated with the website, such as pop-up blocking, cookie blocking, and offline storage capabilities.
Securing Apple Safari
This is the native web browser for all Apple products—Macintosh, iPad, iPhone, etc. Safari comes with similar security settings as IE and Firefox.
Click on Safari button -> Click Preferences.
Under Safari Preferences dialog box, you have the Security tab that help set up the browser for security. Here, you can find various options for cookie management, web content filtering, JavaScript, add-ons, etc.
Securing Google Chrome
This is one of the latest browsers, and it has become very popular. Chrome comes with a Customize button on the top right—next to the address bar—that gives access to browser settings. You have a section labeled Under the Hood that incorporates all the security settings in one place. Under Privacy, Content settings, you can set options for controlling JavaScript, cookies, add-ons, etc.
Conclusion
Securing your browser is one of the most important steps in securing your computer as a whole. Installing a good firewall and an antivirus application provides additional security to the browser. As long as you browse trusted websites and refrain from opening unknown files, your browsing sessions should be free of trouble. Follow the steps outlined in this article to give better security to your browser. In addition, you should download and install the latest bug fixes and new versions of the browser as soon as they are available.