Web Browser Security

It is important to understand the functionality and features of the web browser you use whether it is Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari, to name a few. Enabling some web browser features may lower security. Often, manufacturers will enable features by default to improve the computing experience, but these features may end up increasing the risk to the computer and causing vulnerabilities. How to secure and clear data from your web browser are discussed below.

Secure Your Browser

• Your browser has a “popup blocker” that prevents popup windows from cluttering your screen. Some programs require you to disable this function temporarily. If you disable the popup blocker, remember to enable it when you’re finished.
  
  
• When using a computer or accessing a website, never use an option to “remember my password the next time.” This option will store your password in a standard location on the computer, which is the same as writing it down and is just as bad. If your password is stored, it can be found and used against you.
  
  
• If you use Internet Explorer, your browser has an option to save encrypted web pages to your hard drive. Since encrypted web pages usually require a password, this means you could be saving a copy of your password to your hard drive, which is a bad idea. Also, the browser can auto fill your username and password after typing a few letters. To turn off these features:
  
• • Select Tools from the menu bar.
  • Select the "Advanced" tab.
    - Go to the Security section of the window and select the box in front of "Do not save encrypted pages to disk".
  • Select the "Content" tab.
    - Click the Settings button under the AutoComplete category
    - Uncheck the option boxes beside "Forms" and "Usernames and passwords on forms"
  • Click OK to exit the options manager.
    
    
• If you use Firefox,
• • Go to Tools, Options, Privacy
    - In the History section, deselect all options.
    - In the Cookies section, use the drop-down box to keep cookies until "I close Firefox".
    - In the Private Data section, select "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox".
    - Then click the Settings button and ensure that every entry in the list is checked.
  • Go to Tools, Options, Security
    - In the Passwords section, deselect all choices.
  • Click OK to exit the options manager.
    
    
• If you use Safari,
• • Go to Safari and then Preferences...
  • Click on the AutoFill tab.
  • Uncheck all of the selections.
  • Close the Preferences window.
    

Clear Your Data From Web Browsers

The ability to access the Internet from different locations — the library, a computer lab, an Internet cafe — is a great convenience, but it can also pose a security risk to personal information. Here’s how you can clear your data in Safari, Internet Explorer and Firefox web browsers. 

Safari:

Option 1: Before you start surfing.

1. Open Safari.
2. Go to the Safari menu and select Private Browsing.
3. Check OK when the warning box appears.
4. Begin surfing.

Option 2: If you’ve already opened Safari and are now worried about your data you can do the following:

1. Go to the Safari menu and select Reset Safari.
2. This will completely erase everything and start Safari from scratch.
3. Quit Safari.

Note: Private browsing doesn’t stop Safari from accepting cookies. However, you can completely erase them all by doing the Reset Safari option.

Internet Explorer 7:

1. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
2. Choose the General tab.
3. Under Browsing history, click Delete.
4. Click Delete All…

Firefox 3:

1. From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data
2. Check off all of the data options.
3. Click Clear Private Data Now.

In addition, do not check the "remember my password" box on any website.  


For all other browser programs, please consult the Help menu within the browser or the manufacturer's website for instructions on how to secure and clear data from your web browser.