If not properly secured, Web browsers can serve as a gateway for
malicious hackers who want to infect your network. Created in
partnership with SearchWindowsSecurity.com, this learning guide
identifies the inherent flaws of Internet Explorer and Mozilla
Firefox, introduces viable Web browser alternatives, and provides
tools and tactics to maximize your Web browsing security.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
to Web browser security
Internet
Explorer
Mozilla
Firefox
Other
Web browsers
Patching
Web browser vulnerabilities
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Most enterprises either use Internet Explorer or Mozilla,
however, if you thought those were your only options, you are
mistaken. This section reviews Internet Explorer and Firefox basics
and introduces another viable Web browser option.
Microsoft Internet Explorer is also common target for browser
hijacking. Internet Explorer 7.0 is expected to provide a
significant upgrade to Microsoft browser security but, since it is
still in beta, users are forced to use older, less secure versions
of the browser. This section reviews IE's inherent flaws, and
provides tools and tactics for security optimization.
Organizations tired of patching their IE browsers may consider
migrating to Mozilla Firefox, a popular third-party browser that is
generally thought to be more secure than IE. However, Firefox is
not immune to attacks, and as the browser increases in popularity,
it's likely to become a bigger target for attackers. This section
outlines Firefox existing flaws, and compares Firefox's security
features against the alternatives..
Not satisfied with Firefox or IE? Fear not, there are other
third-party options, including Opera or Safari. In this section,
review the pros and cons of these two Web browser alternatives and
learn what you should expect if you're not using IE or Firefox.
By now, you may be asking "What can I do to fix these flaws?".
To begin, on the second Tuesday of every month, Microsoft releases
hotfixes for its newest flaws which almost invariably include
Internet Explorer patches. This section provides patch management
tools and tactics to secure IE, Firefox or your Web browser of
choice.
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