Less like the key, really, than a car – browsers provide the means for traveling around the Internet to interesting destinations. Unfortunately, sometimes uninvited passengers climb in. On rare occasions, they even ‘carjack’ you.

So, what can you do to stop them?

Users have options, starting with browser selection. Internet Explorer still has over 90% of the ‘market’ (an odd term for free software), but it’s popularity is waning slightly. Firefox and others have inherently better security and the added advantage of running on Linux.

Even if they’re not actually more secure, these other browsers are not as likely to be targeted simply because the people who attack them prefer to go where they’ll get the biggest bang for the buck. Until laws change and software vendors get more serious about the security of their products, the best way to avoid being targeted is to lay low.

Another important factor in improving browser security is to learn more about it.

There are dozens of options in Internet Explorer and other browsers that control what components triggered during surfing are allowed to do. Very few users have much knowledge about what they’re for or the effects of setting them one way versus another.

For example, is it desirable to ‘Allow ActiveX controls and plug-ins’ to Run, or should that be set to Prompt? Individual judgments here, as in all aspects of security in life, have to be made. One factor is your tolerance for responding to prompts versus your willingness to risk infection. After all, you have to decide whom to let in your car, don’t you?

These kinds of trade-offs are a pain in the neck and hopefully the day will come when they’re no longer necessary. In the meantime, however, you really should do some reading and learn a bit about how to set things up for the most effective protection.

Proper use is the final leg of browser security. Do you practice ‘safe browsing’? Some sites prompt to download ActiveX controls (little programs), dialers, adware and other dynamic content. Do you really know what’s likely to happen when you say yes, or are you trusting the source? Trust is necessary, but as the old saying goes ‘Trust, but keep your eyes open’.

Most internet users don’t have any idea just how much information about them is shared when they visit a website. There are many things, such as your location, the browser you use and what operating system your computer is running that are sent to a website when you visit. This is just how the internet works, and it means you need to be careful that you’re well protected.

Take some time to learn how to lock your system down, even beyond just the browser, to make sure that you won’t be hit by some kind of attack.

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