Browser Security News

Surfing on the internet is risky business. Apart from electronic pests like viruses and spyware, the web is increasingly full of criminals hunting for sensitive information left unsecured. Online surfers should be as selective with their browser as real- life surfers are with their surfboards. After all, this is the program that is used to navigate the virtual world. And regardless of which browser is used, one single false setting can expose online surfers to dangerous security leaks.

"The browser is the most dangerous application," says Christoph Fischer, an expert in IT security from Karlsruhe. Browser programs are indispensable for depicting internet pages on the computer, but are anchored deep into the operating system. At the same time they make direct contact with the chaotic realm of the internet. That makes them an inviting target for the ill-intentioned.

Adding to the problem is the increasing complexity of browsers, Fischer notes. All modern browsers include embedded support programs and languages like Java, Java Script, Flash, and ActiveX. This is a result of the trend toward more colourful web sites loaded down with animated "do-dads." Without the corresponding plug-ins, the pages cannot be properly depicted with the browser. Plugging The Leaks: What You Need To Know About Web Browser Security - Tech News - Playfuls.com - Science & Technology