Vulnerable web browsers pose a serious security threat to your confidential data. According to Wolfgang Kandek, a security expert with Qualys, eight out of ten web browsers are vulnerable to malicious attacks. As the World Wide Web grows in magnitude as well as complexity, the security threats continue to multiply. Vulnerable plug-ins and free software, for example, have grown exponentially in the last five years. While the web browsers have continued to add plug-ins, which could have provided the required protection, they have not been able to keep pace. Let us examine the factors responsible for web browser vulnerability.

Increasing complexity in the World Wide Web : Web pages in the olden days were simpler than the ones browsed these days. Web pages were mostly text-intensive HTML pages. Images and animations were rare. However, mostly in an attempt to make the World Wide Web more attractive and productive, web designers introduced such elements as pop-ups, interactive elements (for example, forms) and plug-ins. ActiveX from Microsoft was a notable plug-in. ActiveX worked like a Java Applet but is more flexible. However, ActiveX could access the operating system as well and therefore, posed a huge security risk. These interactive elements also paved the way for malicious program installations on your computer, often without your knowledge.

Outdated patches : Almost all web browsers add a number of plug-ins these days. Adobe’s Flash Player and Acrobat Reader, Java from Oracle, Silverlight from Microsoft and Windows Media Player are some of the standard plug-ins used by the web browsers. While plug-ins are not such a bad thing and may be necessary at times, they need to be updated frequently to make sure that web browsers are protected from malicious attacks. Browsercheck, a Qualys product which performs free browser check, has estimated that a high percentage of web browsers have outdated plug-ins. In other words, these web browsers are vulnerable to malicious attacks. What is even more worrying is that at least 30 percent of web browser plug-ins is never updated. Browsercheck estimates reveal that Java from Oracle, QuickTime from Apple, and Adobe Reader are the errant plug-ins most of the time and are not updated regularly.

Propensity to add plug-ins : Many users tend to install plug-ins from all sources (verified or unverified) which compounds security threats. Many times, plug-ins is required to install or download certain programs. The more the number of plug-ins, the higher is the security threat.

Protecting your web browser from malicious elements is not rocket science — in fact, it is simple. You need to disable plug-ins, unless essential or from verified sources. You also need to configure your computer security settings to prevent Java Applets, ActiveX controls, and JavaScript from installing without your knowledge. Lastly, make sure that your web browser version is updated to use the strongest encryption standards.

Guest Author: Alia Haley
About Guest Author : Alia Haley is a blogger and writer. She loves writing on health and technology. Beside this she loves travelling and exploring new places. These days she is busy in writing an article on body building.
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