There is no lack for digital threats nowadays. The number is increasing day by day, including ransomware attacks, Trojan, spyware, adware – you name it. As you know, most of these threats infect you via Internet, that is when you are browsing web. Therefore, having a secure web browser has become the necessity of today’s digital life.
This does not actually rescue you from the issues of malware. That having said, you can be less scared about common threats like phishing. There are a few things you can do to secure your web browser in Windows. In this article, we will guide you through some of securing steps for Windows web browsers.
#1 Use Updated Web Browsers
It’s up to you to choose between Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge! That having said, you should be running the latest version of the web browser, no matter what. It’s one of the first step towards having a secure web browser in your Windows PC. There are many reasons why you should update the browser. First, old versions of web browsers may have several drawbacks and vulnerabilities in them. A clever hacker can exploit these issues, and thus steal your information & other resources. Secondly, browser updates go ahead of time. Through deep research and analytics, web browsers try to address the upcoming issues in advance. In case of Chrome, you may also get additional security-based features. All in all, it feels good to update your web browser.
#2 Use Plug-ins & Extensions that You Really Need
Plug-ins and Extensions are how hackers gain access to your web browsers and to your computer. So, in the common web browser, you should have as lower extensions as possible. This opens up different benefits, as a matter of fact. First, you’ll be exposed to lesser number of threats. Secondly, this can have good impact on your browser speed and performance. If you look closely, you can know that browser extensions and plug-ins have a huge role in eating up system resources. So, in a single step, you can have the benefits of security and speed. There’s something else to be noted before you install an extension — the required permissions. If an extension is requesting non-relevant permissions, you can doubt it.
#3 Use a Dedicated Browser for Financial Transactions
Do you carry out a number of financial transactions through your browser? In that case, we really recommend having one dedicated web browser for that purpose. This thing is pretty simple. You can create a new user in Chrome or go Incognito when you need to process payment or pay someone. Make sure that you have not installed any extension in that particular version of browser. This actually gets you out of the risk of extension-powered security threats. Also, you can have better speed and performance in the long run. As we said earlier, this version should also be updated on a regular basis. And, if you are desperate enough to use an extension, be sure that it’s updated and trustworthy.
#4 Prefer 64-bit Web Browsers
This is an awesome option if you have installed the 64-bit version of Windows Operating System. In that case, you should download and install the 64-bit variant of your favourite web browser. Don’t worry, you can get the 64 bit versions of all popular browsers, including Chrome, Mozilla and Edge. When compared to the 32-bit counterpart, 64-bit versions offer a better layer of security and performance. And, this is a great factor when you are concerned about securing your browser from different aspects. Also, this can help you attain better browsing speeds too.
#5 Tougher Settings, Better Security
You have this seemingly-simple yet effective option if you are running up-to-date version of a popular web browser. Be it Chrome, Firefox or Edge, every web browser comes with some built-in features for security and privacy protection. But, in most cases, these are not enabled by default. So, if you can take an extra effort to enable these options, you can put an awesome layer of security ahead. You can go to Settings section of each browser and enable different options. If you are using Google Chrome, you will find dedicated options for privacy protection and content protection. This works every time when you need something better.
#6 Use an Antivirus with Browser Support
This is an effective option if you don’t know what you are clicking on! Isn’t great if you have someone to check whether you click on something harmful? Today, most of antivirus tools come with such an option. To do that, you may have to get a supported extension. So, the next time you come across something dangerous, the antivirus tool will warn you about it. Also, if you purchase a premium antivirus package, you get ultra-safe browsers too. For instance, in the case of Bitdefender Security Suites, you can have the Bitdefender Safepay browser or Kaspersky Safe Money, which is much more secure for transactions.
Let’s Sum Up
Well, these are the effective solutions on how to secure web browsers in Windows PCs. As said, not all these methods are fool-proof, given the rise of threats and attackers. Still, when we compare the situation with no-protection-at-all, you get a better layer of safety and privacy. It needs to be noted that availability of features depends upon the browser you select.
