Browser Security (Apr 2016)

Technology Tips – published April 2016 in the Guide and Digest

by Don Trauger – Kennett

I haven’t written about security in your computer for some time now. In previous articles I have recommended Bitdefender Free Anti-Virus. Download it here: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html), Malwarebytes free. Download it here: https://www.malwarebytes.org/ and AdwCleaner. Download it here: https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/. Malwarebytes has changed the way their free program is offered. You get a 14 day premium free trial with the download. After that it reverts back to manual scan and updates if you want to stay with the free version.

 

Now, I suggest you take an additional approach to increase security particularly when you browse the Internet. Yes, your anti virus can still protect you when a malicious file is downloaded into your computer. However, anti-virus programs are not where most of the malicious action is currently. For technical reasons hackers can’t make money writing virus code. Their attention has turned to other ways that Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner can detect and remove. There are still viruses out there but not at the same level as previously. The additional approach should now include improving browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer) security.

 

What I suggest is to add 1 program and 2 Add-ins. The program to be added is Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit. Download it here: https://www.malwarebytes.org/antiexploit/. Download the free 14 day free trial. It should revert to the free version after 14 days. Next, make sure you are using the Chrome browser. If not, get it here: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/. Chrome is perceived to be the safest browser. The 2 add-ins are Adblock Plus https://adblockplus.org/ and Traffic Light from Bitdefender http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/trafficlight.html.

 

Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit guards against web sites that may harbor malicious exploits. Exploit kits are designed by hackers to find and exploit any vulnerabilities in your computer. This program works only when a browser is opened but works on all browsers. Adblock Plus is an ad blocker. It offers blocking to 3rd party ad servers that are often compromised by hackers that can infect your computer by putting malicious ads on your computer. It doesn’t block all ads. Ads originating from the web site itself will still come through. Traffic light examines the web address you are entering. If it’s malicious it will block the connection to that site.

 

Adblock Plus will install on the popular web browsers but Traffic Light will not work on Internet Explorer. I recommend only one change. For Adblock Plus click the red Adblock Plus icon in the upper right corner of Chrome, click Options, and uncheck “Allow some non-intrusive advertising”. These 3 tools work only when you open your browser. In my testing I have not seen any compatibility problems between the programs mentioned in this article.

 


The PC Club meetings are open to all regardless of computer experience. If you have questions that need to be answered, be sure to attend on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM upstairs in the Community Center. April’s topic will cover Browser Security.