Topic: Security

How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

Summary: The traditional role of security software is to scan incoming files and block those that it knows are dangerous. Unfortunately, the bad guys have figured out how to get around that sort of system. More modern security solutions supplement virus definitions and scanning with software that checks for suspicious behavior. They are also able to check the reputation of a website or a specific file and make it much more likely you'll make the correct trust decisions.In this slide show, I look at how the three most popular browsers for Windows are adding these types of features. I also look at new versions of security software from some old names. Surprisingly, both Trend Micro and Norton are doing innovative work that goes beyond mere scanning.

By Ed Bott | August 10, 2011 -- 12:15 GMT (05:15 PDT)

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When you click a download button using Mozilla Firefox, you see a limited amount of information about the file. Your only option is to save it and then open it from the Download Manager.

Firefox uses Google’s Safe Browsing feature (which I discuss later) to block known unsafe sites. In my testing for this post, none of the sites that were actively delivering malware were blocked in any way by Firefox, nor did it do anything to prevent me from saving a malicious file.

For a more detailed discussion, see the companion blog post, Who makes the best Windows security software? Surprise ...

Topics: Security, Browser, Software

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27 comments

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How ZD Net chases off readers.

I don't do 25 image galleries.

Each page with a reload, recenter, click NEXT, AND then repeat 25 times.

MichaelCarr
10 August, 2011 17:19

Reply Vote
- agreed. multiple images per page would be improvement
 
 I find it irritating. Especially the fact it takes so long to load. Facebook has the right idea with the overlay system they use, that prevents the entire page from re-loading every time you want to switch to the next/previous image.
 
 shryko
 11 August, 2011 08:38
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online
 
 @shryko or just put the whole images part in a div and use ajax to refresh it when you switch pictures, very simple to do
 
 jmckay417
 11 August, 2011 11:08
 
 Reply Vote
 - How ZD Net chases off readers
 
 @shryko same here. This is horrible. Why can't they load it onto the same page ? Although I like to se al the images, I don't want to stare at the screen until it flickers and re-adjests with the new image. This suxx.
 
 Madushan Siriwardena
 14 August, 2011 19:10
 
 Reply Vote
- How ZD Net chases off readers
 
 @MichaelCarr
 Totally agree. I hate the ZDNet photo galleries
 
 John238
 13 August, 2011 06:12
 
 Reply Vote
 - How ZD Net chases off readers
 
 @John238
 
 Me too. Awful for a 20 year old company. :D
 
 Madushan Siriwardena
 14 August, 2011 19:11
 
 Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

1. Install NoScript
2. Don't Download A file in a format that the computer can directly execute.
3. And because of 2. Don't waste time with Anti-Virus Software

Its pretty simple

Bodazapha
11 August, 2011 07:00

Reply Vote
- RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online
 
 @Bodazapha Really? Never download any kind of program file? What a boring life. No new games, programs, apps, applets, shows, vids, etc. etc. etc. etc. Viruses are no longer the top threat because virtually any anti-virus program detects & defeats almost all viruses within hours (if not minutes) of the viruses entering the wild. Many users have finally gotten the message about Phishing, and so successful email based social engineered attacks are on the decline. 'On-Demand' trojans (once which users download themselves) are the malware of choice nowadays because many users are still duped into downloading root kits which they think is something else -- and those same people apparently don't use modern AV & malware blockers which mostly do block trojans/rootkits. I rarely venture into the 'seemier side' of the internet, but I've clicked a few links in my time that my AV/AM software blocked. Still no infections here. Would most of the 'social engineering' trojans work on me? No ... and not particularly because of my AV/AM software, but simply because I'm not slow enough to think it's a good idea to download the latest FireFox or Google Chrome from an unknown 3rd party. And regarding your Step 3 ... you can download a non-executable file (e.g., a compressed file or archive) with a virus or rootkit inside. Without AV/AM software, you will never know what hit you. Your advice is not realistic.
 
 Trial Software
 11 August, 2011 08:16
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online
 
 @Tivolier You completely missed the part Step 1 - NoScript - no malware. And with your compressed file scenerio, I could download any bloody (insert fear of the week term here rootkit/virus>) compressed in a zip/rar and even view the zip/rar contents - heck even extract the zip/rar and as long as I dont click on the that little file THAT DIRECTLY EXECUTES - its pretty much Step 2. and again Pretty simple
 
 Bodazapha
 11 August, 2011 09:52
 
 Reply Vote
- NoScript
 
 @Bodazapha
 Hey man I completely on the Firefox and NoScript!! Since I changed over from IE several months ago I have experianced no problems, no spam, no anything! I thought everybody got the memo about .exe files 15 years ago.
 Thanks and have a great weekend.
 CM
 
 CMor64
 2 September, 2011 07:19
 
 Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

Base your security in the MS browser and MS security programs and make bad boys be happy.
Use a true secure OS if you want security, not a patch over a patch.

ramon.sole@...
11 August, 2011 10:47

Reply Vote
- RE: Use a true secure OS if you want security, not a patch over a patch.
  
  @ramon.sole@...
  
  "Ouch!"
  
  But, so true.
  
  fatman65535
  11 August, 2011 12:51
  
  Reply Vote
- RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online
  
  @ramon.sole@... The only secure OS isn't connected to the net, in fact it has no input ports whatsoever lol! The bad guys just haven't got around to your OS yet, that's all.
  
  Shadeburst
  12 August, 2011 04:29
  
  Reply Vote
  - safe for a while
    
    @Shadeburst Well, at least those of us not using windows will have some time before the bad guys get here. Beats being in the cross-hairs already.
    
    normcf
    14 August, 2011 20:10
    
    Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

well what is the best software, and how do I down load it?

willyr99@...
11 August, 2011 12:13

Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

"Trust Decisions" are ineffective. By the time the user gets to the point, they've already decided to trust the download. Plus, we have become numb to that popup to ask us what we want to do with the file, and blindly click "Run".

William_P
11 August, 2011 12:13

Reply Vote
- RE: ... we have become numb to that popup ....
 
 @William_P
 
 Hence why the derisive term "Click Monkey" came into use.
 
 fatman65535
 11 August, 2011 12:53
 
 Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

The solution is quite simple to 99% of this stuff, Read The Screen. for all the expamples you list have suspect domains for example "oeachot.info/adobe-flash/". last I checked adobe flash is an Adobe product therefore it should be downloaded from Adobe, adobe.com is the domain. Like iI have told all my clients since the first pc's all the information you need is on the screen all that is needed is to Read It. Some sort of personal responsibility is required with computer ownership.

rayb@...
11 August, 2011 12:36

Reply Vote
RE: How browsers and security software can keep you safer online

You can still bypass the download in a link in the Ie8 smartscreen filter block.

rockachu2
11 August, 2011 13:31

Reply Vote
You convinced me

My browser is FF 4 which is a stinker anyway but I was too lazy to change it. Now you've convinced me. As I'm on a Windows platform I might as well use IE.

Shadeburst
12 August, 2011 04:27

Reply Vote