An Internet browser is the software that you use to browse through websites. Most operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux come with bundled Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, Konqueror, Mozilla’s FireFox), so you don’t have to worry about not having one. Aside from that, there are a lot free browsers available on the Internet as alternatives to default ones.
One of the Simplest Trick you need to watch out for is a Pop-up Window asking you to allow a Site to change your Browser’s Default Protection Level or to give a Site unlimited Access.
Think long and hard before agreeing to this because you are in essence unlocking the door of your house to a stranger when you agree !!

Why Secure your Browser?

The Internet has a good side that you use for getting work or school assignments done, communicating with friends and loved ones. It is also where you download games, music, or videos for entertainment; however, the internet also has its bad side that plays host to viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, spyware, spam, and phishing attacks.

Since your Internet browser is the software application that you use when online, it is the one that is most vulnerable, either by programming flaw or human error through social engineering.

Surely there isn’t a “bullet-proof” Internet browser, but there are steps that you can follow to make sure your browser won’t easily fall victim to Internet scams.

Most browser settings, by default, are not quite secure, or do not provide adequate protection from recent threats on the Internet. There are a lot of ways a hacker can exploit and abuse a browser, and such default settings are just not enough. The problem is that most users never bother changing those default settings, leaving the computer and all the data stored in it at risk.

A hacker can use vulnerabilities or bugs in a browser, or even poorly configured settings to gain limited to full remote access to a compromised computer. Here are some of the common ways:

• Drive-by downloads – Malicious websites, when visited, may automatically download and even install a program without your knowledge. That program may be a keylogger, a trojan, a virus, or any type of malware (malicious software).
• Browser Plug-ins – Most browsers use plug-ins for added functionality and features, but these are also exploited to run malicious HTML code to enable full access to the compromised computer.
• ActiveX, Java, Flash, and Browser Cookies – These browser components allow more functionality in websites, to provide an immersing or multimedia-rich website; however, these add-ons are also used to run customized malicious codes that bypass security measures, making these a serious security problem.

Phishing is a malicious scam attempt that uses social engineering and a little software exploiting, is one of the most recent, yet serious security problems you should be aware of. Phishing aims to lure users into voluntarily providing sensitive information like banking details (bank accounts, credit card numbers), user names and passwords, and other personal information that will be later used for fraudulent or malicious activities. In most cases, phishing makes use of such vulnerabilities in Internet browsers to disguise the attempt in identity theft.

Choosing a Secure Internet Browser

As previously stated, most operating systems come bundled with Internet browsers. This is quite convenient since users don’t need to go through the hassle of installing and configuring a browser to be able to go online.

This setup is being exploited by hackers to easily gain access to computers and computer networks. For example, Windows, the operating system of Microsoft is the most widely used system and it comes with Internet Explorer.

Given that fact, hackers will simply craft tools to automatically exploit Internet Explorer since it holds the largest market share of web browsers.

If you use a popular or widely-used browser, you are at higher risk of getting malware compared to using not-so-popular browsers. This does not imply that Internet Explorer is a very risky Internet browser to use. It is just so common that it is seen as a big target by people with malicious intents. There is no perfect web browser that is immune to such security threats. (Tips on how to get rid of malware.)

Browser Alternatives

If you find the current browser that you use to be unsatisfactory, or you are just worried about the number of security threats out there, there are a lot of alternatives that are relatively safe. To name a few, you can either use Firefox, Opera, or Safari. As with any web browser, you should try to update them whenever prompted to the latest version as bugs and other security holes are typically fixed with each new version.  Using an older version may make you vulnerable to security holes.

• Mozilla Firefox – Firefox is the second most popular browser in the world today, next only to Internet Explorer. It is free to use, cross-platform, and has an open source. Using the default settings, this browser is relatively secure. It comes with a built in pop-up blocker, phishing protection, tabbed browsing, a skinnable interface, and an encrypted password manager. The best part is you can add more features by using add-ons that can be downloaded from the website.
• Opera – It was previously an advertisement-supported free browser but since 2005, this browser has been freely used without advertisements. Though not as popular as Mozilla Firefox, Opera is a feature-rich browser that has similar features as Firefox and more built-in features. It has an IRC, email, a Bittorrent client, and a download manager, aside from tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, and phishing and spyware protection.
• Safari – Though it is the official browser of the Mac OS, there is now a version for Windows as well. Those who have tried surfing the Internet on a Mac computer will experience similar features when using this free Internet browser.

Though the browser you use is important in preventing security problems, it is still your duty to make sure your Internet browser, along with your other software, is updated with the latest security patches and upgrades. Without those updates, your computer will be exposed to new threats. If you enjoyed reading this article, you’ll surely be amazed in learning the Top ten Internet scams.