What are Browser Security Threats and the Ways to Avoid Them?

 

A web browser is arguably the most commonly used application for accessing the internet. Advancements in browser technology have enhanced their usability and made them an integral part of accessing various resources on the World Wide Web. They come with cookies, which allow activities such as recording history, enhancing user experience, and saving credentials, among others. Even though a browser makes it easy for a user to connect to the internet, it can bring a torrent of security threats through the very same route and create challenges for any cybersecurity testing company. Since these may contain confidential information such as user credentials, they are often targeted by threat actors to cause a data breach. Besides, browsers are more prone to security threats as they help users visit websites that may contain malware or other security vulnerabilities. The common browser security threats and the ways to prevent them are mentioned below:  

Common browser security threats and the ways to mitigate them

Users often end up doing stuff using their browsers, which may invite threat actors to unleash their barrage of attack vectors to steal confidential data. The common security threats related to browsers are as follows:

Accessing browser history: The browser history shows the websites users have visited and the purpose of such visits. It can be compared to a map of users’ behavior on the internet. Hackers, upon knowing the sites visited, can indulge in phishing attacks to obtain credentials for the sites provided the same are not stored in the browser. The sites can be an online marketplace or a banking portal where users enter credit/debit card details to buy stuff. Hence, it is advisable to clear the browser cache once confidential information is shared, say while doing online banking. Such clearing of the browser can be done manually or automatically after closing the browser. Also, it is advisable to use the incognito mode while browsing.

Weak protection using outdated antivirus: Hackers are always looking to breach firewalls or antivirus protection measures, and so, it is important that users keep their antivirus or firewalls updated. Importantly, most security threats exploit the human factor to gain confidential information using social engineering. Hence, business enterprises should train their employees about risk and compliance measures and hire the services of a professional cybersecurity testing company to identify the risks and vulnerabilities of their online platforms.    

Harvesting saved credentials: Users often save their login credentials with bookmarks for the sites they visit. This is a dangerous practice as hackers can use such credentials to access the banking websites of users. Even though some websites use a two-step authentication process by sending OTPs to the users’ mobile phones, they are mostly done once to confirm the identity of users. Hackers can exploit such loopholes with ease and run away with all the confidential information. To avoid such an eventuality, users should never save their credentials in browsers.

Autofill information: Some browsers save essential information (like a home address) to relieve users from typing it again when visiting any online shopping website. This can prove to be deadly if the device falls into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is better to turn off any autofill mechanism to enter personal details or confidential information.

Ads and redirects: Ad pop-ups can be pesky as well as frustrating. But some of them can be malevolent, enticing users with false notices such as their systems being infected and pushing antivirus to eliminate them. These pop-ups are difficult to get rid of as many of them do not contain an ‘X’ button. To get around these ad pop-ups, users need to close the program and use the task manager in Windows. Better still, make a cybersecurity assessment using security testing tools.

Third-party plugins or extensions: Browsers can contain third-party plugins or extensions such as Flash or JavaScript to perform various tasks. However, there may be plugins or extensions from not so legitimate sources, and which may not be useful from a business perspective. These may contain malware or other threat vectors that can access confidential information. To avoid such a situation, users are advised to use only business-related extensions and plugins from legitimate sources. A cybersecurity testing exercise can identify and eliminate such undesirable plugins.  

Conclusion

Internet browsers are essential for any business running its operations online. Their critical role and ubiquity mean business enterprises should conduct periodic penetration testing services to find out (and mitigate) any security vulnerabilities in using browsers.

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James Daniel is a software Tech enthusiastic & works at Cigniti Technologies. I'm having a great understanding of today's software testing quality that yields strong results and always happy to create valuable content & share thoughts.

Article Source: dev.to