10 Firefox add-ons help enhance security

Network Administration - There's no denying the fact that Mozilla Firefox is currently the most popular browser application available.

Although still "young" compared to Internet Explorer, but since its inception, it has taken away a lot of market share of this "unique" application. Firefox's favorite user is because it has a very large add-on repository.

With the constant increase in security risks, choosing a highly secure browser application is a 'wise' choice of netizens when most attacks are all aimed at this kind of vulnerable application.

Although not the most secure browser application yet, Firefox is still quite a lot of users choose, because as with other browser applications, Firefox has some basic security settings that help secure the browser session of the user. In addition, it also has a rather massive repository of add-ons to help provide more security features as well as browser support tools.

Below we will 'score' 10 of the add-ons that enhance Firefox security.

1. NoScript

If we only want to install an add-on, it's best to install NoScript. By default, this add-on has a function to block all scripts. Using scripts is one of the most common ways that hackers use to install malicious software on the system. However, after installation, we can configure enabling JavaScript, Java, . to operate from specified domains.

2. BetterPrivacy

BetterPrivacy is an add-on that helps manage Flash cookies very effectively. Flash cookies are difficult to remove, do not expire, and can also re-create previously deleted HTTP cookies.

Flash cookies (also known as Local Shared Objects - LSO) are pieces of information stored by the Flash plugin on a computer. They are placed in central system folders so they are not deleted. Although their capacity is much larger than regular cookies, very few users pay attention to them. The problem is that, after a period of time, hundreds of Flash cookies are stored in specific folders, and they will never be deleted.

BetterPrivacy can prevent this by enabling these objects to be removed each time the browser application is turned off. Usually the automatic deletion process is very safe, especially if the delete timer tool has been activated. This timing tool can delay automatic deletion for new or edited Flash cookies that may be in use. In addition, it allows to delete these objects immediately if desired.

With BetterPrivacy we can check, protect or delete new Flash cookies separately. If you want to manage all cookies manually, we can cancel automatic functionality.

3. Adblock Plus

Once this add-on is installed, right-click an Adblock banner from the context menu, the banner will not be reloaded. It can even replace banner parts with '*' icons to block similar banners. In addition, we can choose a filter method on the first launch of Adblock Plus, then this filter will automatically block all ads.

4. Perspectives

Perspectives is a new method that helps workstations to identify Internet servers in a secure way to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks (a method of listening to compression, in which hackers perform connection sessions independent of victims and forwarding mail between them makes them believe that they are directly talking to each other via a private connection). Although this is not a perfect tool, it warns us when there is a risk of security.

5. SSL Blacklist

SSL Blacklist is a tool developed from Perspectives that helps secure TLS / SSL by detecting weak or canceled licenses, which may cause security issues. SSL Blacklist can also check if this license is developed in the vulnerable MD5 hash algorithm. This algorithm is another security weakness.

When a security issue is detected, SSL Blacklist will display a message like this:

6. WOT

WOT is an add-on from the Web of Trust Services. If we access a Web site showing signs of insecurity, WOT will issue a warning and take measures to protect the system before we interact with a malicious Web site. WOT can protect the system against online threats such as:

1. Spyware, adware and virus
   
2. Exploiting browser application
   
3. These online stores do not believe
   
4. Forgery, spam and other forms

With the ability to classify safety up to 21 million Web pages, WOT includes many information taken from trusted sources, such as spammy and spoofed black lists, along with user-supplied information. This tool uses viddeer crystal algorithms to create new and most reliable reviews. WOT assesses the safety level based on 4 criteria:

1. Reliability
   
2. Reliability of suppliers
   
3. Private
   
4. The safety of children

WOT allows to customize the protection level to secure the browser application. To protect families, we can install WOT to block any inappropriate content for children.

7. PhishTank SiteChecker

PhishTank SiteChecker helps users to put all PhishTank into Firefox browser application to add protection against fake attacks.


All access to "scandalous" sites for fraud is blocked, but users can choose to continue the session.

In addition, PhishTank SiteChecker has some additional features such as:

1. Customize the status bar
   
2. System support / error logging
   
3. Reference to change behavior with certain cases
   
4. Ability to turn off fake filters
   
5. SafeView allows viewing fake pages before reloading filters
   
6. A blacklist of Up-To-Date uses data from PhishTank

Note : WOT and PhishTank SiteChecker are quite similar in functionality. Sometimes these two add-ons have conflicts.

8. TrackerWatcher


9. BugMeNot

BugMeNot is a service that provides login information for sites that require login. It is mostly used for sites that we do not want to register. Any session entered is considered by the user, and these login sessions may be labeled as 'working' or 'not working'. When the work rate is lower than 50%, the login session will be deleted from BugMeNot.

10. Xmarks

Xmarks is not really a secure add-on, but it is a very useful add-on. It helps to synchronize bookmarks between multiple browser applications. Currently Xmarks supports Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.

In addition, Xmarks offers smart search capabilities, and provides page information integrated in the browser application. We just need to click the Location bar to check the details of the page being accessed.