How Safe Is Your Browser?

Your Browser’s Ability To Protect You Against Phishing, Socially Engineered Malware (SEM)

We have talked about Browser and Web security several times on this site, but it is important to remember that the bad guys do not sit still. They are very aggressive in their attempts to invade your privacy and security.

In a recent article, I compared several browsers on their perceived ability to keep you safe. It is important to know that each of the major browsers, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox continue to battle for our online safety because browsers are the pathway hackers use to infect you. Combined with your Operating System, they are also your first line of defense against hacks.

In two recent reports published by NSSLabs concerning Web Browser Security, ”Protection Against Phishing”,  “Protections against Socially Engineered Malware (SEM)”, a comparative report on each browser’s ability to protect us against Phishing, and SEM, highlights the importance of using a secure browser and the security features inherent in your operating system.

Overview

Microsoft continues to improve their Edge browser’s security and according to the NSSLabs Findings, Edge performed the best in protection against phishing attacks, blocking an average of 96.7% of phishing URLs. It also had the highest zero-hour protection with a rating of 86.5%. Firefox came in second with 94.3%, while Google sat right at 94%. Zero-hour, also known as Zero Day attacks, take advantage of our computer’s defenses when not having a signature solution. Zero-hour attacks may indeed be undetected for much longer than a day, so any advantage your browser can provide may be the difference between a protected or hacked system.

The Safe Browsing APIs used in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox provided additional, but minimal phishing protections over time with Firefox slightly ahead of Chrome short term. Microsoft Edge’s SmartScreen provided enhanced protection that complemented their Edge browser.

Summary

While Microsoft Edge appears to have the current lead in browser protections, that does not mean it always will. That is why I can never stress enough the importance of safe browsing and these reports are valuable tools in keeping us knowledgeable. There is considerably more information contained in the reports and I would encourage you to visit NSS Labs Research Library to review the reports in their entirety.

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