Quick Links
Your internet browser is the gateway to online activities, where you access email, browse social media, and make transactions. With so much sensitive information shared online, prioritizing security while browsing is crucial. Here are five browser security features everyone should use.
1Disable Auto-fill and Save Password Options
When you visit a website and enter your login details, your browser may prompt you to save your password. While this makes things easier, it also carries security risks. If someone gets access to your device, they can access your account without a password. So, it’s safer to disable this feature and manually enter your password.
Disable Auto-Fill in Google Chrome
Disable Auto-Fill in Mozilla Firefox
Once you disable this option, you’ll have to enter your login information for each site manually, but it’s a small price to pay for additional security.
2Activate “Do Not Track”
While browsing the internet, your browser collects information about your online behavior and shares it with advertisers. This is how you see targeted ads based on your interests and browsing history. As a result, you may be at risk of identity theft and data breaches. Given that most browsers now have a “Do Not Track” option, which asks websites not to track your online activities for targeted advertising.
Activate Do Not Track in Google Chrome
Activate Do Not Track in Mozilla Firefox
Once activated, this option requests websites tostop tracking your activitiesand displaying personalized ads. However, not all websites comply with the “Do Not Track” directive, meaning targeted ads may persist.
3Enable the Pop-up Blocker
Pop-ups are small windows that appear while browsing the web. They may trick you into clicking links or downloading malicious code, which compromises your security. Upon clicking, malware can infect your device and steal sensitive information like personal data, login credentials, and financial details.
Some pop-ups redirect you to fake websites that look like real ones. To protect against these threats, you must activate the pop-up blocker in your browser.
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
4Apply Enhanced Protection Settings
Safe browsing practices, such as regularly updating software, avoiding suspicious links, and using strong passwords, can protect you from most online threats. However, sometimes, these measures aren’t enough. In your browser, you can enable enhanced protection settings for added security.
This feature will alert you to potentially dangerous sites and spot threats that Google may not have detected. It performsin-depth scans for suspicious downloadsand protects all Google services when signed in. As a result, your protection settings remain active even if you switch devices or browsers.
To activate enhanced protection settings, follow these steps:
5Always Use Secure Connections
When you browse the internet, you may notice a small padlock icon next to a website’s URL. This icon indicates the site uses asecure connection called HTTPS(Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). It shows that the information exchanged between your device and the website is encrypted, keeping it safe from outsiders.
Enabling this setting in your browser will ensure that you always use secure connections. Once activated, your browser will use HTTPS whenever available. If a site doesn’t support HTTPS, you’ll receive a warning before loading it.
How to Enable “Always Use Secure Connections” in Google Chrome
How to Enable “Always Use Secure Connections” in Mozilla Firefox
With this setting enabled, your browser will automatically create a secure connection to every site you visit.
