How Modern Browsers Can Help To Protect From Phishing and Malware

Modern browsers can help to protect you from phishing and malware attacks whilst you are innocently browsing on the web. They do this by eliminating the three major security risks which you are up against whilst you are online.

1. Shielding You From Attackers

You may not realize it, but you are in danger of attack from both malicious fake websites and also familiar looking websites which have already been hacked. Fortunately, modern browsers can check each web page before you actually visit it and let you know if anything malicious is suspected. Then it’s down to you whether or not you continue to visit the web page.

Google Chrome, as well as several of the other more modern browsers use something called Safe Browsing technology – sounds pretty self-explanatory doesn’t it? How it works is that, as you go about your business innocently browsing the web from one site to another, every page is quickly checked on a list of known or suspected malware and phishing websites. If the browsers finds a match then it requests more information from Google (using a secret code), and if Google verifies that it is a match you will be shown a red warning page so that you are aware that you are trying to visit a potentially dangerous website.

2. Browser Vulnerability When Under Attack

If you are using an old browser which hasn’t been suitably upgraded then you are definitely more vulnerable to attack.  If your software is outdated, whether it’s your browser, your operating system or even plug-ins, you will have the same problem. That’s why it is so important that you always use the latest upgraded versions of your browser and make sure that every part of your computer is updated with all of the latest security systems.

Whilst some browsers have an automatic updates checker and let you know when there is something new to be installed, more modern browsers have a built in auto-update, so the browser simply runs an update check and automatically updates anything which is necessary without you even having to worry about it.

3. Potential Damage to a Vulnerable Browser

Some of the more modern browsers such as Chrome or Internet Explorer have a built in sandbox. Just like in real life, this sandbox offers an extra layer of protection, making sure that the sand doesn’t spill out over the walls. If you do, by chance, happen to open up a malicious web page, the sandbox in the browser doesn’t allow any malicious code to leave the browser and be installed onto the computer hard driver. This means that the malicious code is unable to damage, alter or even read any of your computer data.

So, how do modern browsers help to protect you from phishing and malware? They run a check on the websites you want to visit, they automatically update to a newer, more secure browser version when necessary, and protect your computer from potential damage with their sandbox. It’s all clever stuff.