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How to Browse the Internet More Safely

explained simply

How would we be exposed to a virus or some spyware?
The way these pests spread is most commonly via websites and email. And often when it is by email it will be an email that will display web content in the email, open a browser automatically or ask you to open a link in your browser.

Internet Browsers

Microsoft's Internet Explorer, 'IE', is the most popular browser.

It is so popular that there are probably many internet users who are not aware that there are any other browsers. (But there are.)

Unfortunately, because IE is so widely used, by millions of users, and integrated into the Windows operating system, it is also a favourite target for people wanting to invade your privacy.

If you have ever been to the Microsoft Update site and looked at the recommended updates to download you would have seen the descriptions for the security patches that Microsoft recommends you install.
The descriptions usually go like this: they are to deal with a vulnerability that could 'allow a malicious website user to...(do something to your computer)...'

  • The points to note here are:
  • Some people who put pages on the web are 'malicious'.
  • They would like to use their web site and your browser to get some uninvited control over your computer and invade your privacy.
Free Internet Security - WOT Web of Trust

WOT (Web Of Trust) is a free site advisor you can use.

WOT is able to warn you about bad sites before you visit them.

Read more about WOT on our blog.

How can we browse the internet more safely?

As usual, there is a lot that could be said about this, including topics such as:

  • Your internet activities:
  • Using common sense about internet 'bad neighbourhoods'
  • Being careful about what programs you download, and from where
  • Being careful about what advertising or messages you click on
  • Your tools:
  • Making your browser more secure (or getting a different one, see below)
  • Using a firewall
  • Using tools to defend yourself from virus and spyware dangers.

Making your browser more secure:

There are certainly steps you can take to make Internet Explorer more secure, or, as they say, 'lock down' your browser. You will need to understand or learn about things like the settings for 'zones' in IE and other of the advanced settings.

I am referring to the Internet explorer options that look like this (see image below):

Image of internet explorer options

You can get lots of advice about this from Microsoft here, on Microsoft's security-related pages.
There is a large amount of information there about safe internet use. You can also read and learn a lot there about computer security in general.

Here is the page specifically about using the Zones in IE6
But you might want a more simple, step-by-step, explanation. If so, see below.

Want Very Clear Instructions?
(about Internet Explorer security and zones options) Fortunately, there are simple step-by-step instructions with plenty of graphics and explanations at: Spyware Warrior.
This clearly explains how to set up the Internet Explorer options and security setings. The AOL browser is included also.

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Use a different browser.

Since Internet Explorer is so popular with 'malicious' web site users many people prefer to simply use a different browser.
There are at least two other excellent and FREE browsers that we can use.

1. Opera.

Opera 9

The Opera browser has been around for a long time. Its aim has been to be an alternative browser that is small, fast and secure.

Over time, Opera has included various useful features and options that you simply cannot get in other browsers.
Well, everybody else might not have the same tastes as us so we will not detail all the features that we think are so good.
It is enough to say that Opera is still a small, fast and secure (and free) browser.

2. Firefox.

Get Firefox Firefox is the latest browser using the same (but developed) technology behind Netscape or Mozilla browsers in the past.

The Firefox browser is increasingly popular. Because of this it is already a target for people wanting to invade your privacy by way of your internet browser.

However, Firefox is not the most widely used browser and it is not integrated into the Windows operating system.
So Firefox is another, alternative, free, browser that is less of a target for attackers and will keep you more secure on the internet.

Firefox also comes with a lot of nice features. E.g. Here is one that a lot of people appreciate: if an animated gif image is annyoying you as you read a page, just push your escape (ESC) key to stop the animation and turn the animated images into still images.

Well, that is just one built-in feature. But Firefox is extremely easy to customise. Users constantly develop more and more features and functions and make them available to other users as 'extensions'. If you find yourself thinking 'I wish my browser could...' chances are that some user has made it possible. There are hundreds of extensions available.
Take a look at addons.mozilla.org­/extensions.php

As at January 2007 there are over 150 Firefox extensions (freely available) relating to privacy and security.

You can learn a lot about browsing securely, and what threats and annoyances are out there on the web, just by reading about these security extensions that people have made, and why they made them.

We did not mean to make this page too long, but we can't resist showing another example of a useful security extension from the Firefox list. (I have not tried this extension but I very possibly should.) Password Hasher. Don't worry about detailed description, but but notice the first three main points that the publisher of this tool mentions.

The topic of passwords will be on another page still to come, but those three main points sum up the essentials:

  • We should use strong passwords (that means no nicknames or birth dates or plain English words).
  • We should use a different password for each site or bank or email account that needs a password.
  • We should change our passwords from time to time 'just in case'.
  • Remember these basic requirements to staying secure online:
  • Making your browser secure (or maybe using a different browser).
  • Using anti-spyware tools. (A few.)
  • Using an antivirus tool. (One good one that runs all the time.)
  • Using a firewall. (Just one.)
  • Using email safely. (Some antivirus and anti-spyware tools will monitor incoming and outgoing emails.)

Image for GhostSurf
Get anonymous surfing, spyware protection and more in one package. For the free trial, click the "Free Trials" link in the menu
when you get to the Tenebril website.
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