How to Make Your Browser Hacker-Proof and Protect Yourself Online

Note: This is a guest post by Barry Evans of VPN Guvnor. The author’s views are entirely his own and may not reflect the views of Deepanshu Gahlaut’s Blog.

Apart from games and some specific applications, much of the access we make to the internet is via our web browser.

There are many variations in existence, and each person has their favorite one to use. This being said, there are many browsers which use Chromium as their underlying base on which to build.

Although all browsers do a good job keeping users safe from online threats, hackings, phishing etc., however, different kinds of threats for browsers are coming on a regular basis, it becomes very important to follow some best practices to keep yourself safe from these threats.

Making a web browser hacker-proof sounds like a tall order, but there are straightforward things you can use to protect yourself online.

Let’s explore.

1. Pop-Ups and Adverts

Above all, these are annoying, to say the least, and without knowing some can have malicious intent. Many websites around the internet are asking for users to provide log-in details for specific accounts. Unknowingly a user might type in their details and give a hacker the information they were looking for.

By using an ad-blocking add-on such as Adblock Plus, all of this threat can be eliminated without a user knowing the adverts are there. That is a good step in the right direction to keep your data and privacy safe.

2. Tracking Sites

Our personal information is being logged and stored. Businesses harvest all this information for marketing purposes, and it can be sold to third parties without a user knowing their data has been used.

Site tracking blocking add-ons can block these links to tracking sites and make sure our information doesn’t go astray to the extent that it does. Disconnect is one of the best available add-ons. It lets you visualize and block the invisible websites that track you. Thus, it makes your browsing faster, secure and more private.

3. Cryptocurrency Mining Scripts

It was found recently that cryptocurrency mining scripts had been inserted into specific sites. This allowed a user’s system to perform cryptocurrency mining while they were on the site.

Although no harm or information is gathered, it does tax your computer and can slow it down. Script blocking add-ons can prevent this from happening. Now you can avoid any site from running a script in the background unless you whitelist the site and allow it to do so.

4. History and Cookies

This is another area which our browsers can have a weak link. Our browsing history can be seen, or cookies can be found which might contain personal log-in information to bank accounts or other accounts.

Many browsers now offer an incognito mode (private browsing) where none of this information is recorded and will be deleted when your browsing session has finished. If your browser has it, you should use it. All of these things you can do to help secure your browser, but there is one more step you can take that can make your browser even more secure.

5. VPN Services

With a VPN software, all of your internet connection is routed through an unknown server. This can be located anywhere in the world, so, VPNs can allow you to watch geographically locked content.

Although that is not their sole purpose, it is something you get as a bonus from the top VPN providers. Their primary goal is protection. All of your traffic, be it in your browser or not is tunneled and out of view from anyone who might have the intention of snooping.

The top services are able to protect several devices in your home or can be installed on individual routers. This along with the other add-ons mentioned can make your browser more secure and go a long way in protecting you and your family’s privacy.

What are your thoughts on this? Have something to add to this list of ways to secure your browser? Please share in comments.