Web Browsers have become an inevitable part of our lives today. For searching restaurants & tourist destinations to look out for jobs, we use web browsers for almost everything.
Table of Contents
How to secure your browser?
Disable unsafe extensions
Browser extensions are critical for a lot of internet users as they serve a varied purpose. They are a piece of code that adds some additional functionality to your browser. Unfortunately, that’s where the problem lies. Not all browser extensions are safe & secure. Some extensions are written with the malicious intent of snooping on unaware internet users.
So if it’s not necessary, disable your browser extensions to stay safe.
Disabling extensions will take just a couple of minutes, depending on the browser that you are using.
Enable security extensions
I do not want to confuse you. I understand the second point contradicts what I mentioned in the first point, but it’s really useful.
As I already mentioned in the earlier point, not all extensions are unsafe. Interestingly, some of the extensions are created to offer added security to your browser.
Such security extensions block malicious websites from accessing your data, block IP addresses & allow only HTTPS connections.
This might prevent you from using certain websites, but it’s a small price to pay against the security it offers.
There are numerous options available in the market. You can check out the full list here.
Use Powerful Anti-virus
How hard can this be? But still, a lot of people tend to ignore this critical factor. A robust anti-virus ensures excellent safety against all types of online threats, including malware, spyware & ransomware.
As the database of anti-virus software from leading brands is constantly updated, they offer better protection against these online threats.
An ideal anti-virus will instantly prevent you from opening any malicious website or link on your browser, preventing any data breach or hacking attempt.
So always invest in the quality anti-virus without focusing too much on the price.
Say “NO” to save passwords
We all have plenty of online accounts on Social media, Banks & other websites. Unfortunately, remembering their passwords is a cumbersome task. That’s where Password Managers come into the play. Almost every browser offers the facility of remembering your login credentials, making it easy to log in every time.
But what if your laptop is stolen? Have you ever thought about how risky that can be? Your financial or social life might be at risk. So I highly recommend disabling the feature of Remembering the password.
This is super easy, irrespective of what browser you are using.
- For Edge: In Microsoft Edge, navigate to Settings, click on Passwords & Autofill. Then, click on the toggle to turn off all three functions.
- For Chrome: Navigate to Settings, choose Passwords, and uncheck the Offer to Save Passwords and Auto Sign-in.
- For Firefox: Click the Menu button, then select Preferences. Select Privacy & Security on the left pane. Scroll down to Logins and Passwords and select the Saved Logins button
Use encrypted Web Browser
Programs encrypted with 64-bit encryption are considered more secure & protected as compared to 32-bit programs. So I recommend web-browsers secured with 64-bit encryption.
Currently, almost every web browser comes with 64-bit protection. So you can use any of them. But still, it is advisable to double-check
Try alternative browsers
We are accustomed to using Google, Edge, Safari & Firefox. But there are a lot more options available too. For .e,g Tor & Brave.
These web browsers offer a lot more security as compared to mainstream browsers. E.g., they don’t collect your private data like top browsers.
So if you want to focus more on security & Privacy, these browsers can prove to be an excellent choice.
What are the top alternative browsers available
Brave
Brave is comparatively a new alternative browser available. It’s built on the same open-source platform as Google Chrome, so you can easily get accustomed to it. It focuses a lot on Privacy along with redundant performance.
It also supports all the extensions that you use on your Google Chrome browser. But the thing that I love most about Brave Browser is its in-built ad-blocker, HTTPS updater & tracking blocker feature.
This is an excellent feature as it will prevent any snooping attempt by a malicious website to steal your data through pop-ups & ads.
It’s also equipped with an incognito mode that hides your IP using TOR. So if you want to search something by your IP, incognito mode works like a charm.
Personally, I feel Brave is the best Google Chrome alternative right now.
Opera
If you are a Google Chrom fan & yet want some secure Browser, Opera is another option like Brave. It’s built on the same Chromium platform as Google Chrome itself.
It comes with features like a built-in VPN that hides your location & allows you to access region-locked content.
It also has a built-in ad-blocker & Opera turbo mode that compresses all the data & boosts the performance.
TOR
When it comes to Privacy & anonymity, nothing comes close to Tor! It collects zero data from you & keeps you fully anonymous. What’s unique about Tor is its process. When you use Tor, your communication is bounced off around the globe by the servers operated by volunteers! How cool is that!
Tor doesn’t let someone track your location, not even the websites you are visiting. So, long story short, if you love your Privacy, install & start using Tor right here, right now!
Safari
This Apple-powered Browser is fast & secure. Apple values the Privacy of its users a lot. And this policy reflects in their web browser.
It prevents ad-trackers from accessing your browsing patterns. This will protect you from irritating retargeting ads from websites like eBay & Amazon. It also has a reading mode that eliminates all distractions when you are reading something on the browser.
So if you are using Apple products, you can surely go with Safari instead of Chrome.
Conclusive thoughts
Data privacy & browser security is becoming difficult task with every passing day. Especially web browsers are easy targets for hackers.
Any such attack on your browser will compromise your financial & social life. So I highly recommend reading & following this guide to ensure you stay safe.
I sincerely hope this guide will help you in securing your Privacy & data while surfing online. Meanwhile, stay updated with our latest blog on technology & other topics in WittySparks.
FAQs
Is it safe to use browser extensions?
Not all extensions are malicious & harmful. But some of them surely are. So I always recommend disabling such extensions while using your browser.
Is Brave a good alternative browser?
Definitely! I have been using Brave for the last 6 months & I’m very well satisfied with its performance & safety features. So if you want to enjoy the Internet safely & anonymously, Brave is an excellent option.
Does Google chrome steal my data?
Technically, it’s not stealing! You are allowing Google to access your certain information in return for using some of their services. But, yes, Google surely collects your personal information.
