Each web browser has it’s own security and convenience features. But there is always room for improvement. Here are my top 3 recommended free web browser plug-ins (aka extensions or add-ons, etc.) you should add. Note: All of these plug-ins are available for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Opera. They may be available for other web browsers as well, but I haven’t test that.
The first 2 plug-ins are from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Go to www.eff.org then look under tools for Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere.
#1 Privacy Badger: This tool prevents advertisers and other trackers from seeing what you do on the web. Some websites, especially the big ones, like to place tracking cookies in your browser. Then they can show you more ads related to what you looked at. Regardless of their intensions, I think it’s just plain creepy.
#2 HTTPS Everywhere: A website will begin with either http: or https:. The “S” is short for Secure Socket Layer. You don’t need to know what that means. But you should know, if you’re entering sensitive data on a website beginning in http: that your information can be easily seen by hackers. Some websites will have both http: and https: available. This tool ensures that you always browse on the https: one, when available. It helps to encrypt your submissions on websites protecting your identity.
#3 Adblock Plus: The third tool can be found at adblockplus.org. As the name suggests this one blocks most adware, pop-ups, malware, and other trackers. Some non-intrusive ads aren’t blocked, but that’s to help the web developers. The annoying ones will be though. This plug-in is customizable (as are the others), for enhanced settings. But I find the default settings for mine work just fine.
As I discover new plugin-ins and tools to keep you safe on the web, I’ll continue to reveal and review them on this website. Any suggestions for a software, or type of software, you would like to know more about, please let me know using our Contact form.