- 24th September, 2024
- By Riya
Just like you never would jump off an airplane without a parachute, one shouldnt have an online presence without a safe browser. In simple words, it is like a safety net for your online work and digital presence. It is a web browser with extra security measures that help prevent unauthorized third-party activity while you're surfing the web.
Safe browsers play a crucial role in maintaining online security and protecting user's privacy. Be it security, privacy protection, protection against exploits, parental controls, enhanced user experience or for protection across devices.
While there are several safe and reputable search engines available, it's important to be aware of some search engines that may pose potential risks to users' security and privacy. Things to look out for could include:
- Unregulated or lesser-known search engines: Some search engines that are not widely recognized or regulated may have questionable practices when it comes to user data privacy and security.
- Search engines with a history of security breaches: There have been instances where certain search engines have experienced security breaches, leading to unauthorized access to user data or exposing personal information
- Search engines that prioritize ads over user safety: Some search engines focus primarily on displaying advertisements, often at the expense of user experience and safety.
- Search engines that track and store user data extensively: Some search engines have been criticized for extensive data tracking and profiling practices, collecting and storing users' search queries, IP addresses, and browsing habits. Some search engines that have raised security and privacy concerns in the past are Shodan, Yandex, MyWebSearch and Ask.com.
Determining whether a browser is safe or not requires considering several factors and indicators. Google, itself tells us in its help center about ways to identify unsafe websites. Chrome will alert you if you can’t visit the site safely or privately. It tells us to check a site's security, from seeing the left of the web address, and checking the security status symbol:
- 🔒 Secure
- Info or Not secure
- ⚠️ Not secure or Dangerous
To know more about Google’s guidelines you can visit their website. You must be aware of unwanted extensions that are added, look out for spywares or other softwares are automatically downloaded when you click on any pop up or you are forced to download one saying you have been infected with a virus and all.
Practicing certain actions like- keeping your browser up to date, installing reputable security extensions and installing applications from the same, enabling automatic updates for plugins, being cautious of unknown or suspicious websites, utilizing secure connections and using strong and unique passwords always can greatly enhance your online security. However no browser is entirely foolproof. It's important to stay vigilant, exercise good judgment, and maintain a comprehensive approach to online security by combining safe browsing habits with robust antivirus software and a well-protected operating system. This is important to an ensure a safe landing to your online experiences.
