Security is a hot topic. This is because hackers are willing go to any lengths to steal data and infect computers using viruses. This is something that no one wants to happen, so it is crucial to protect your device. Most attacks using browser add-ons are carried out through browser extensions. As operating systems have become more secure over the years, it is becoming harder for attackers to gain access to the lower layers. They are now looking for other ways to attack a system. This is where browser plugins come into play.
Nearly all of us use browser plug-ins. Most don’t keep track of which ones we have installed. Even worse, many programs install their own addons to the browser. It can be difficult to get rid of them. There are many types of plugins you should be aware of. Some plugins are programs that are saved to our computers so they can interface with the browser. Some of them only work in the browser’s environment. These extensions are not a threat as they do not have access to the main system. With this in mind we will only be focusing on the most commonly used plugins for attacks.
Chrome
Chrome’s version determines which browser you use to configure all add-ons. All add-ons, plugins and extensions, will be available if you are using a version higher than 57. You can access this menu by clicking “More Tools” and then selecting “Extensions” in the dropdown.
Luckily, you don’t need to follow all these steps to reach the plugins menu, instead, you can use the shortcut and type “chrome://extensions” in the URL bar and it will take you to your destination. This screen will display a list all plugins installed in your browser. You can click the “Details” button to view the details or disable any plugins you don’t use. As for the Adobe Flash Player, you can find it in the components list by searching “chrome://components/”. This page allows you to update the software if necessary.
Safari
Safari is another popular browser. It has a different configuration of plugins than the other browsers. The browser will open a new tab with different settings from the App Store. To find Java, go to the “Preferences”, then to security. Uncheck the box that states “Enable Java”. If you use the right plugins, plugins can be very helpful. You need to be aware that there are potential risks when installing a plugin.
Firefox
Firefox users can see a list all plugins installed in their browser by going to the dropdown menu, then clicking on “Add-ons”. You will then see the plugins option to the left of your screen. The next screen will display a list of plugins installed in your browser. You can view a list of all of them alphabetically and click on the “More!” option to learn more about each one. You can simply go through the list and remove any that you don’t use or seem suspicious. You should disable any plugins that you don’t use on a regular basis.
You can also check if your plugins are current. Every add-on has a button that says “Check”. Click on this button to find out if the plugin you’re using is relevant. Firefox is the easiest and most convenient way to ensure that your browser plugins are properly managed.
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer users should also take the necessary steps to ensure that their browser plugins are not being misused. Click on the gear icon to manage add-ons. Next, click on “Manage addons”. You will be greeted to a new window with a list all plugins currently installed in your browser.
This list can be quite long, and it is easy to get lost in the names of some plugins. Once you have sorted it out, you will be able to tell which plugins come from Microsoft and which are third-party. Internet Explorer keeps adding new plugins all the time. This is the main problem. You will need to manage them almost every day.
Conclusion
These are the most important things you should know if your browser allows you to manage plugins. There are many browsers available, but we chose to focus on the most popular and widely used. It is important to protect your computer from hackers at all costs.