The Internet can be a dangerous place. Malicious websites steal your personal information, computer viruses masquerade as legitimate downloads, rampant cross-site trackers infringe on your privacy…the list goes on. Discover 7 ways to keep your browser up to date for better security
But while most browsers come with multiple features to keep you secure, you also need to do your part to make sure everything is up to date and configured just the way you want it.
Read on to find out 7 ways to keep your browser up to date for better securityin Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari for the best security on PC and Mac.
7 ways to keep your browser up to date for better security
Web browsers receive frequent critical updates aimed at fixing known security vulnerabilities and other issues. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all support automatic updates, but it’s good to do a manual check for newer browser versions from time to time. If you use Safari, browser updates are part of regular operating system updates.
Google Chrome : open the menu Chrome (select the three dots icon next to the address bar) and select Aid > About Google Chrome.
MozillaFirefox : Open the menu of firefox and select Setting . Then scroll down to the section Firefox updates and choose Search for updates .
Microsoft Edge : open the menu edge and select help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge .
apple-safari : open the menu Manzana and select System preferences > Software update > Update now .
2. Update your PC and Mac
Aside from your browser, it’s just as important to update your PC or Mac. That helps provide a secure platform for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari to run on.
Update Windows : open the menu Start and select Setting > windows updates > Search for updates . Then select Download and install to apply any pending feature or security updates.
Update macOS : open the apple menu and select About this Mac > Software update . Suppose there are pending updates, select Update now .
Extensions and plug-ins help reinforce the default functionality of your web browser. However, outdated extensions can weaken your browser’s security, so it’s best to take the time to make sure they’re up to date. While you’re at it, we recommend that you remove or disable any outdated extensions that you no longer use.
Google Chrome : open the menu Chrome and select More tools > extensions . On the screen that follows, turn on the switch next to developer mode and select To update .
MozillaFirefox : open the menu firefox and select Plugins and Themes . Then select the icon Setting in the form of a gear and choose Search for updates .
Microsoft Edge : open the menu edge and select extensions . Then turn on the switch next to the developer mode and choose To update .
apple-safari : opens app store and select updates in the sidebar. Then choose To update next to any Safari extensions with pending updates. If you want to manage your extensions, open Safari and go to Safari > preferences > extensions .
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari offer multiple preconfigured security features and privacy settings to keep you safe online. However, you should review them routinely and make adjustments if necessary. You can also increase protection (but at the risk of breaking sites). Also, consider revoking permissions to sites you no longer visit.
Google Chrome
Open the menu of Chrome and select Setting > security and privacy . Then you can:
- Select Check now to start a browser vulnerability scan.
- Select Security and change the Safe Browsing module (which offers protection against malicious sites, downloads and extensions) from standard protection to Protection enhanced .
- Select Security and turn on the switch next to Always use secure connections to upgrade unencrypted web page traffic to HTTPS .
- Select Site Settings To review site permissions: Location , camera , microphone , notifications etc.
MozillaFirefox
Open the menu of firefox and select Setting > Privacy & Security . Then you can:
- Increase the default tracking protection of Standard a Strict .
- Always set the browser to broadcast the Do No Track signal.
- Scroll down to the section permissions and review site permissions.
- Scroll down to the section Protection from deceptive content and dangerous software and make sure your browser is set to block dangerous downloads.
Microsoft Edge
open the menu Edge, select Setting and choose Privacy, Search and Services in the sidebar. Then you can:
- Increase the default tracking prevention of balanced a strict .
- Ask Edge to send Do Not Track signals.
- Scroll down to the section Security and make sure it functions like Microsoft Defender SmartScreen (which protects against malicious downloads and sites) and Typosquatting Checker are active.
- Activate the option Improve your security on the web to protect Edge against malware.
- Select Cookies and site permissions in the sidebar and review the site permissions.
apple safari
Select Safari > preferences of Safari in the menu bar. Then switch between the tabs Security , Privacy Y Websites and do the following:
- Activate the protection of fraudulent sites.
- Prevent cross-site tracking
- Set Safari to hide your IP address from trackers.
- Review site permissions for trusted sites.
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5. Check your passwords
Compromised passwords pose a significant threat to privacy and security. If you use the built-in password manager for Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, you have the option to check passwords involved in known data breaches and update them accordingly.
For even better security, you might also consider switching to a strong password manager, like 1Password, LastPass, or Dashlane.
Google Chrome : open the panel Settings and select Autocomplete > passwords > Check passwords . Then select the button Change Password next to each weak or compromised password to update them.
MozillaFirefox : open the menu firefox, select Setting > Privacy & Security and make sure that the box next to Show password alerts for breached websites be active. You can then open the menu firefox and select passwords to review and update vulnerable passwords.
Apple Safari: Open the dashboard Safari preferences and select passwords . Then activate the option Detect compromised passwords and update compromised or weak passwords.
6. Use security and privacy plugins
You can also use plugins to strengthen the security of the web browser. Here are seven extensions to try on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. They also work in Chromium-based browsers like Opera and Brave.
- : Blocks trackers while you browse the web.
- : powerful open source extension to block ads. Learn about alternative ad blockers for Safari.
- : changes the default search engine to DuckDuckGo, rates sites on an AF scale based on privacy practices, and blocks invasive website trackers.
- : Check shortened URLs for security.
- : Force non-SSL sites to load over HTTPS.
- : Allow JavaScript content only on trusted sites.
- : Makes private browsing easy by encrypting web traffic and masking your IP address. Learn more about VPNs.
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7. Scan your computer for malware
It is essential to scan your computer from time to time for malware using a dedicated malware removal tool like . That helps remove hidden browser hijackers, malicious extensions, and other forms of harmful software. Alternatively, investing in a real-time antivirus scanner can prevent sites from infecting your PC or Mac in the first place.
If you use Chrome on PC, you can also run a scan for malware using its built-in cleanup tool. To access it, open the menu Chrome and select Settings > Advanced > reset and clean > clean computer .
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Despite keeping your browser secure and up to date, thanks to this tutorial on 7 ways to keep your browser up to date for better security, it is ultimately up to you to prevent unsafe behavior while browsing the Internet. Refrain from clicking on dubious links, be careful what you download and only make purchases from safe sites… you know the drill
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