Web browsers provide you the capability for traveling around the Internet to interesting destinations. Unfortunately, sometimes uninvited passengers climb aboard on your journey. Sometimes they hijack you!
So, what can you do to help prevent this?
When it comes to web browers you do have options. Internet Explorer still has over 90% of the web browser market, but it's popularity is starting to decline slightly. Firefox and others have supposedly better security.
Even when not inherently better, other browsers and operating systems are less popular targets. Until both legislators and software vendors get really serious about security, it's possible to reduce your vulnerability by staying out of the spotlight.
Education is another key to hardening your browser's security.
There are numerous options in Internet Explorer and the other browsers that control what components are triggered during your surfing sessions. Very few users have much knowledge about what they're for or the effects of setting them one way versus another.
For example, is it desirable to 'Allow ActiveX controls and plug-ins' to Run, or should that be set to Prompt? Individual judgments here, as in all aspects of security in life, have to be made. One factor is your tolerance for responding to prompts versus your willingness to risk infection. After all, you have to decide whom to let in your car, don't you?
It's an undesirable trade-off to be faced with, but in the interim, it isn't necessary to be a computer geek to experiment and read a bit to find out what these settings affect. The first time you're infected and lose a day recovering, you'll wish you'd spent the two hours finding out.
Proper use is the final leg of browser security. Do you practice 'safe browsing'? Some sites prompt to download ActiveX controls, dialers, adware and other dynamic content. Do you really know what's likely to happen when you say yes, or are you trusting the source of those downloads? Trust is necessary, but as the old saying goes 'Trust, but keep your eyes open'.
Most users are unaware of the extent to which using a browser opens up their system to the rest of the world. Being on the Internet means not just seeing other place, but you are also visible. And accessing sites usually means being accessible. It isn't just harmless cookies that can be downloaded to your system. Once executable programs are downloaded they often have free rein to your entire system.
The bottom line is you need to spend some time learning how to lock down your system, outside the browser settings, to make it more difficult for these errant programs to gain Administrator level privileges. Your time will be well re-paid.
So, be aware of what's happening when you web browse to a site. Download only from trusted sources. It's fine to be slightly suspicious of strangers, but don't pick up hitchhikers.
