Guard Your Browser Against Internet Threats

When you are online, the entire worldwide web seems to be watching you. Visit a website and you will start receiving newsletters, promotional emails from a stream of different websites that you never even visited. Other than the website you visited, a number of websites are told about your browsing history and personal details like name, email address etc. without your knowledge and consent. Why does this happen? It happens because of your web browser for which you do not think enough. Since web browser is a medium to connect to the online world, you must secure it. Viruses, Trojans, malware, hackers use your internet browser to peep into your computer. The free internet browser support guide mentioned below will tell you ways to tighten your browser's security.

Instructions:

Download and install the latest security updates and patches for your web browser. To avoid manually doing the updates, turn on the automatic update feature in your web browser and relax. Your browser will automatically install updates without your intervention. Updates help keep your browser and the computer secured and protected from online and network threats. For Firefox, click Tools and select Options. Click the Advanced tab and then click Update, the sub-tab. click to select the button beside Automatically download and install the update. Click the OK button and then OK again to exit both the windows. Restart Firefox.

For Internet Explorer, click the Start button and go to Control Panel. Double-click Windows Update and then set it to Daily Updates. Save the changes and exit Control Panel. When you make this change, make sure Internet Explorer is closed. For Safari, click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Select Software Update and set it to download and install updates automatically. Save the changes and close the window.

Block banners, pop-ups, plug-ins, and phishing websites. Also, block third-party cookies. Cookies are small files that a website places on your computer to track your origin and browsing preferences. A genuine website will use cookies to help you serve better, while a malicious one will use them to track your information and deceive you. Other than a few trusted websites, you can never be sure what will happen with your personal information. I have described the procedure of blocking cookies in Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Apple Safari. Check the information below.

If you are using Mozilla Firefox, click the Tools tab and go to Options. In the Options tab, click the Privacy tab. Below Accept cookies from sites, you will see the Accept third-party cookies box will be checked. Click the drop-down menu and select ask me every time next to Keep Until. Click the OK button to exit the Options window. Close and reopen Firefox to make the changes effective. From now onwards, every website will seek for your permission before placing a cookie on your computer. If you think the website is genuine, hit Allow. Otherwise, click the Block button.

For Internet Explorer, click the Tools tab and select Internet Options. When in Internet Options, click the Privacy tab and then click Advanced. You will see two headings First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies. Click the Prompt button below both the headings. Click the OK button to exit the Advanced Privacy Settings window. Click OK again to exit Internet Options. Close and restart Internet Explorer.

If you are using Mac Safari, click the Safari tab and then select Preferences. Click the Security tab and check the box next to Block pop-up windows. Under Accept Cookies, either click the Never button or the Only from sites you navigate to button. The latter option will let only the websites you visit to place cookies on your computer. Rest of them will not be able to place the cookies.

Disable Java, JavaScript, and ActiveX in your browser. In Mozilla Firefox, click Tools and select Options. Click the Content tab and remove the check mark from the Enable JavaScript box. Hit the OK button and restart Firefox by closing and reopening the window. For Internet Explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options. Click the Security tab and then click the Custom Level button. Look for ActiveX Controls and Plus-ins and click the Disable button. Click the OK button to exit the window. Click OK again to exit Internet Options. Restart Internet Explorer.

For Safari, click the Safari tab and select Preferences. Click the Security tab and remove check mark from the Enable JavaScript box. Save the changes and exit the window. Close and reopen Safari to make the changes effective.

Always sign out properly from a website. Do not stay signed in when you are not using your computer. Do not open emails with attachments or links from unknown senders. Do not open emails that say "congratulations, you won $80 million" (or a similar message). Such emails always demand your name, address, data of birth, identity proof, email address, and phone number etc. You should not share your personal information with unknown senders because they spam you with such messages.

Run a full virus scan after every 14-15 days to make sure that no virus intrudes into your computer. Always scan the downloaded files before opening them. Free utilities and software like free online virus removal software, tray clock, weather forecast, music, and video etc. often come bundled with virus, spyware, and Trojan among other malware. If you want to download a free utility, always trust a trusted, secured website. Do not visit the websites that don't use HTTPS, a secure and anti-phishing technique. You can download and HTTPS Everywhere, a plug-in. It forces several popular websites to use the HTTPs encryption and thus prevents intrusion and maintains your privacy.

Additional Tips:

Set your browser not to store history (at least for insured or less-secured websites). Also, set your browser not to remember your passwords. In case of a difficulty, contact a web browser support service.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for online virus removal, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.

View the original article here

How to Make Your Opera Browser Secure

Opera is considered as the most secured web browser than other web browser types. It is also the web browser that supports almost every operating system (whether old or new or whether computer or mobile phone) viz. Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris, FreeBSD, Nintendo, and mobile phone among others. However, like other web browsers, Opera has its share of vulnerabilities and problems too. Thus, you should secure your Opera browser to prevent online threats from taking advantage of its vulnerabilities. Check this free Opera browser support guide and make your browser secured.

Procedure:

In case you visited a malicious website by mistake, right click on the webpage and selectBlock Content. This will block the malicious content from being downloaded or viewed on your computer. Close the webpage and open a desired one. Follow this practice for all malicious websites.

Edit the email settings to prevent virus, malware intrusion via emails. Click the Incoming tab and select Low Bandwidth mode from the listed options. Opera will now download only the first 100 lines of an email message (whether genuine or malicious) unless you request it to download the full message. So if the message appears to be from a trusted source, you can allow Opera to download the full message. Otherwise, leave it as is and/or delete it.

Configure the cookie settings to make your browser secured. Click the Settings tab and navigate to Quick Preferences> Edit site preferences> Cookies. Select any one of the given options viz. Accept cookies, Accept cookies from only from the websites I visit, Never accept cookies, Delete new cookies when exiting Opera, and Ask me before accepting cookies. I recommend you to select the last option viz. Ask me before accepting cookies. Save the changes and quit the window. Now from the next time onwards, Opera will prompt you to either allow or deny the cookies every time you visit a website.

Like Mozilla Firefox, Opera integrates a secure Password Manager feature that allows it safely store all your passwords (if you are using different passwords for each account) and login details like usernames and/or email addresses etc. This feature will give you relief from memorizing all your passwords and typing them every time you log in to a website. It is a secured and encrypted feature. So, you need not worry about the safety and security of your password and login details. They will not be compromised with Opera.

The Password Manager feature is turned on by default in Opera. When you log in to an account on a website, Password Manager prompts you whether to save the password for this website or not. You can either hit the Save or Never button as desired. If at any time you want to delete your saved passwords, click the Settings tab. Navigate to Preferences> Forms> Password Manager. Delete all the listed passwords. You can also turn off Password Manager any time you want by going into Settings> Preferences> Forms. Uncheck the box next to Enable Password Manager. Save the changes and exit the Settings window.

Opera has a built-in Fraud and Malware Protection feature, turned on by default. This feature puts malware and phishing filters in place to make sure that every web page or email goes through them for maximum protection against virus, spyware, Trojan, and malware etc. The feature shows a color-coded security badge when you visit a website. The green padlock indicates that the website is maximally secured. The yellow padlock shows that the website is secured and can be browsed through without any problem.

The grey web icon shows a normal website with encryption and verification problems. It depends on you whether to visit the website or not. The grey Local computer icon shows a folder or file on your computer. The red Fraud or Malware warning indicates that the webpage you are viewing is compromised and is a known fraudulent or malware website. You should not visit any such website.

Another key to secure your browser is to keep it updated with latest updates, patches, definitions, and tweaks etc. Opera integrates an Auto-Update feature that automatically downloads and installs latest updates from the website for maximum protection and enhanced performance. You must have noticed that when you open Opera, it sometimes prompts you to install the recommended update(s). You either need to allow Opera to install the update instantly or choose the Remind me later option to install it later.

If the Auto-Update feature is not turned on by default, click the Settings tab. Navigate to Preferences> Advanced Preferences> and then Security. Click to the select the box beside Automatically Install Updates. Hit the OK button to save the settings. Exit the Settings dialog box. You can also manually download and install updates by clicking on the Help tab and then selecting Check for Updates. Opera will start looking for the latest updates. When done, hit the Install Now button immediately install them.

Besides making the above mentioned changes to your browser, make sure that you keep your antivirus, antispyware, or firewall program updated. Run a full virus scan after every 15 days or so. Always run a custom virus scan for the downloaded files and attached USB drives. Yes, when you download a free utility like weather program, tray clock, audio/video song, free online virus removal software (a large number of them are fake) etc., scan them using your antivirus program. Besides, when you attach a USB drive or insert a CD etc., always scan to make sure that no malicious infection executes on your computer.

Additional Info:

Though cookies are not harmful in a direct way, but they store all your online activities from the login details, passwords, and the websites you visit etc. Cookies are small text files that not only store you information but are also capable of tracking which websites you visit, what did you shop for, or what you actually like browsing when you are online.

Cookies are placed by various websites to collect and track your information. A website can contain a number of cookies ranging from 1 to 13 or more. Receiving sales, promotion mailers (newsletters) from an unknown website is an indication that its cookie tracked your information when you visited it or another website on which it had placed its cookie.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for online virus removal, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.

View the original article here

How to Make Your Mozilla Firefox Browser Secure

Your internet\web browser is a medium for you to connect to the internet or online world. On the other hand, it is also a medium for those online threats like Trojans, viruses, spyware, spam, fake free online virus removal software (which are threats themselves ) etc. to slip in to your computer.

Considering the risk of rising online threats, privacy infringements, and data\identity thefts etc., it should be your priority to safeguard your web browser. How you can do this is explained here in this article. This free Mozilla Firefox support guide will help you tighten the security noose around your Mozilla Firefox browser and prevent malware, phishing, spam etc. from intruding in to your computer.

Procedure:

Mozilla Firefox -

If you are using Mozilla Firefox as your web browser, check these instructions to make it secure. Open Mozilla Firefox from the desktop shortcut. Alternatively, you can open it from the Start button, All Programs. Click the Tools tab and point down to select Options. Depending on the type of your Firefox version, the first tab you will see will either be General or Main. Under this tab, look for the Always ask me where to save files option.

This option will be disabled by default. Instead the Save Files to option will be set by default to the Downloads folder or any other default directory. You will need to select the Always ask me where to save files option. It will enable you to have more control on the downloadable items that will seek for your permission before being automatically downloaded to the Downloads or any other location in your computer.

Now click the Privacy tab. look for the Remember What I enter in forms and the search bar option. This will enabled by default. You will need to disable this option. To do so, click to uncheck the box beside this option. Depending on your Firefox version, you may see Remember search and form history instead of Remember What I enter in forms and the search bar. Uncheck this option and move on to the next option which is Accept cookies from sites.

This option will be enabled. From the drop-down menu next to Keep until, you will see the default option set to they expire. This means that your browser is set to remember and keep all the cookies (small files that keep track of your online activities) until they expire. Now you can understand that this can be very dangerous, at least in case of phishing, malware websites that create and roll out malicious add-ons, virus, malware software, fake online virus removal software, malware removal software etc. Cookies of these websites track and collect your online activities and personal information for their own advantage.

Thus, set this option to enable the user permission. Click the drop-down arrow next to Keep until and select ask me every time. From the next time onwards, whenever you will open a website, Firefox will seek your permission to either allow or deny cookies to run on that webpage. If it is trusted website like Firefox or Microsoft, you can click the Allow button or simply Allow for Session button. If you choose the latter option, the cookies will save and track your activities only for the time till the webpage is opened. So, Firefox will no longer save cookies when the webpage is closed.

For malicious or suspected websites, you can simply hit the Deny button. You can even view the cookie information and decide accordingly whether to allow or deny a cookie. Now click the Security tab and verify that the Warn me when sites try to install add-ons option is checked. If it's not, check it. Under the Passwords section, click to check the box beside Use a master password option. This option not only lets Mozilla Firefox manage all your stored passwords but also encrypts your computer data. Choose this option only if you trust Mozilla Firefox.

When you choose this option, it will ask for your current password (blank if it is not already set) and new password. Confirm the password and hit the OK button. Now click the Content tab and deselect the Enable Java box. Now click the Advanced button next to Enable JavaScript. In the Advanced JavaScript Settings window, remove checkmarks from all the boxes and hit the OK button to close it. Besides, enable the Block pop-up window option.

When done, click the OK button to save the changes and close the Options window. Firefox might prompt you to restart the browser to save these changes. Hit the Restart button and Firefox will close and reopen. When done, download these plug-ins viz. HTTPs plug-in, AdBlockPlus, and Ghostery. You must download the Firefox version of all these plug-ins.

Besides, use an antivirus program that scans and protects your Firefox browser from different tracking cookies, malicious websites, malicious scripts, spam add-ons etc. A number of antivirus programs like McAfee have a site-scan feature that proactively warns you about a website's genuineness and maliciousness.

Besides these settings, you must download and install latest browser updates and patches whenever these are available. Though Firefox always prompts you to download install whenever an update is available, but you can also manually download them from the Firefox website. Choose what suits you best, but do install latest updates.

The Author of this article is associated with V tech-squad Inc, V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. if you have any problem while performing the above steps and need technical assistance for online virus removal, You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

About V tech-squad Inc.

V tech-squad Inc. is a cloud based online technical support provider to consumers and small businesses. V tech-squad provides support to users for issues with their PCs, Mac's, Tablets, Phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and devices such as MP3 players, Printers, Scanners, Fax, Wireless networking gear, Netflix, Roku boxes and TVs. With an obsessive focus on quality and building technical expertise, V tech-squad continues to maintain an issue resolution rate of more than 90%. V tech-squad's credibility has been tested by more than 10,000 customers. Currently V tech-squad provides support services to consumers and small businesses in United States. For more information on V tech-squad, Inc. visit vtechsquad.com.

View the original article here