| Currently, IE (=Internet Explorer) is the most | | | | malware attacks, but users who are passionate |
| popular Internet browser. As such, malicious | | | | regarding their privacy should think twice before |
| hackers made it their number one target and set | | | | using it. |
| out to exploit its flaws. It also has the | | | | 2. A privacy mode (Incognito) - this feature |
| disadvantage of relying on ActiveX technology, | | | | manages privacy settings and designed to suit |
| which allows web sites to run executable | | | | users who use public computers, or otherwise |
| programs on your PC via your browser. Although | | | | wish to keep their browsing habits confidential. |
| there is an improvement in security in IE7 and IE8 | | | | When enabled (Click the wrench menu -> |
| compared to older versions, this technology is still | | | | Select New incognito window menu item) Chrome |
| vulnerable. | | | | browser will not remember visited pages, form |
| In order to improve security you may choose to | | | | and search bar entries, passwords, download List |
| use a less popular browser such as, Mozilla's | | | | entries, cookies and cached files. |
| Firefox or Google Chrome. | | | | You can still create bookmarks, and these will be |
| Both Firefox and Chrome use a different | | | | retained when exiting incognito window. |
| technology from Internet explorer. They both built | | | | A similar feature exists also in Internet Explorer 8 |
| on open source code from other platforms. | | | | browser and Firefox 3.5 browser. These features |
| Chrome browser is based on the open-source | | | | probably make live easier for Internet users who |
| Webkit engine, which is an open-source web | | | | want to keep their surfing habits to themselves, |
| browser layout engine developed by the WebKit | | | | but in the same way it helps the adults in the |
| Foundation. Firefox is based on the open source | | | | group it also may allow children to surf |
| Gecko engine, which is a layout engine currently | | | | unsupervised. Internet savvy kids can easily hide |
| developed by Mozilla Corporation. | | | | their Internet activities from their parents. So it is |
| For now the most popular alternative to Internet | | | | very important for parents to understand that |
| explorer is Firefox. I have a lot of respect to | | | | monitoring of their children Internet activities by |
| Mozilla and the open source community, but when | | | | viewing the browser history on the child's PC |
| I have tried to use Firefox 3.5 I had a frustrating | | | | might not work. |
| experience. It has kept crashing down on me, | | | | 3. Clear Browsing Data - There is a feature in |
| crashing my PC along with it. | | | | Google chrome which allow the user to clear |
| As result of this experience I have decided to | | | | browsing data, such as, browsing history, |
| give Google Chrome a chance. Google Company | | | | downloads history, cache, cookies, saved |
| has stated in many occasions that Chrome | | | | passwords and saved form data (Click the |
| browser has innovative security features. | | | | Wrench menu -> select Clear browsing data |
| When investigating these announcements I have | | | | -> Select the checkboxes for the types of |
| noticed four major security features in Google | | | | information you wish to remove). This feature |
| chrome. | | | | allows you to keep your browsing habits to |
| 1. Safe browsing software (it is also being used by | | | | yourself even if you are not using the Incognito |
| Firefox browser) - Safe browsing features | | | | window. |
| protect users against phishing and malware | | | | Parents should be aware that similar to the |
| attacks. It uses a blacklist approach that gets | | | | Incognito mode their kids can use this feature to |
| downloaded to the user's PC on a regular basis. | | | | delete their browsing history so parents should |
| How does it work? Well Google is constantly | | | | not rely on browsing history as something that |
| crawling the web, finding new and changed | | | | can help them get involved in their children |
| websites. During this crawling if they encounter a | | | | Internet activities. |
| suspicious site that seems to be a phishing site | | | | 4. Sandbox security mechanism - This feature, as |
| (designed to steal personal information of | | | | I see it, is the most significant one. A sandbox is |
| unsuspecting users), it is being added to a list of | | | | a security mechanism used to run an application in |
| suspected phishing websites. If a site contains | | | | a restricted environment. Browsers are dealing |
| hints to potentially malicious activity, Google tracks | | | | with malicious attacks on a regular basis. The |
| this site for a while and if a clear evidence of | | | | most popular vectors for browser attacks are |
| malicious activity is discovered, such as, computer | | | | HTML Rendering and JavaScript execution. The |
| viruses being downloaded and installed, it is being | | | | sandbox security mechanism is designed to |
| added to a list of suspected malware-infected | | | | protect the user's PC and files against these kinds |
| websites. | | | | of malicious attacks. If there is an attack that |
| If you use Chrome browser and you have safe | | | | exploits the browser vulnerabilities and an arbitrary |
| browsing mode enable, then Google Chrome will | | | | code is being executed on the machine, it will be |
| contact servers at Google, approximately every | | | | executed in an isolated environment and the |
| half hour, to download updated lists of suspected | | | | user's PC will not be harmed. This security |
| phishing and malware websites. These lists are | | | | mechanism will also prevent access to the user's |
| being stored on your PC so when you surf the | | | | files. The sandbox mechanism itself is not a new |
| Web each site you browse to is being checked | | | | security model; It uses the security features of |
| against these black lists locally (This is designed to | | | | Windows extensively. You should be aware that |
| offer performance). If the requested site is in the | | | | since the sandbox mechanism relies on Windows |
| black list a warning message will appear stating | | | | to achieve its security, it is impossible for it to |
| that the requested site is suspected to be a | | | | protect against a flaw in the OS security model |
| phishing site or a malicious site and the user can | | | | itself. |
| choose to go back to safety. | | | | In a nutshell, these four security features seem |
| This feature seems to help the fight against | | | | to be helpful and contributing to a safe Internet |
| malware and phishing, but there is a disadvantage. | | | | experience, but I am not seeing any innovative |
| A few bloggers have raise questions about | | | | new security models here. Three of these |
| privacy implications. Bloggers have notice that | | | | features - Safe browsing software, privacy |
| every few hours when an update of the black | | | | mode and Clear Browsing Data, already exist in |
| lists is being done, two parameters are being sent | | | | IE8 and Firefox 3.5, and the sandbox security |
| to Google servers - "machineid" and "userid" - | | | | mechanism can be added to IE8 and Firefox by a |
| both computed information based on machine | | | | plugin/addon. |
| user information. This information is sent along | | | | I think the greatest advantage of Google Chrome |
| with a bunch of other browser information to ask | | | | is that currently it is not targeted as much by |
| Google if they should download an update. This | | | | malicious individuals, as IE and Firefox are. |
| information can be used for tracking. Google is of | | | | Additional advantage is in the usability factor which |
| course obligated to privacy agreement with | | | | seems to be in my opinion better than IE or |
| Internet users stating it will not use any of the | | | | Firefox, but I think this issue is a matter of taste... |
| personal information being collected, but would this | | | | For now, if you are looking for a less targeted |
| obligation stand against a court order? I really | | | | browser, Google Chrome seems to be a good |
| don't know. In short, safe browsing seems like a | | | | alternative. |
| great security feature fighting phishing and | | | | |