Essential Features Every Browser You Use Should Have

Browsers are like windows through which we view the internet, but at the same time they can be used against us by individuals or browser developers or even someone to spy on us and steal our data for various purposes. For this reason, we must always ensure that the browsers we use, whether from Google, Microsoft, or any other company, have certain specifications, and here we are not talking about aesthetic features, but we focus on everything related to security and privacy. So let’s review below the essential features that should not be compromised in the browsers you use to access the internet.

The primary and fundamental function of browsers is that they are our gateway or window to the World Wide Web as mentioned above, but with the development that has taken place over the past years, browsers have several uses and features. Like storing passwords, credit card information, personal addresses, and many other information that undoubtedly concerns you, and you will regret if someone reaches them, and this is possible if security is not a feature of your browser.

You may say: Well, I will disable the save feature in browsers, and this is a good solution, but you forgot that our online activity itself must be protected? After all, who wants anyone to see what they are looking for? These are personal matters. Companies are always lurking and want to profit from us in any way possible, so any slip on our part will be exploited in the worst way to track us, and even affect our unconscious decisions and minds.

Let’s not forget also that the increase in the popularity of digital currency mining has directed more eyes of “miners” – if the labeling is correct – towards our browsers, because the process of mining digital currency consumes device resources in a way that could make it explode – literally – making those scoundrels beg on the browsers and devices of others while protecting their devices from this imminent danger. Therefore, using a browser that does not have security features exposes your data, and even exposes you personally to the danger of stealing all your information and exploiting you, and even exploiting your computer as a result of the mentioned digital currency mining activities. Here we must ask a question of utmost importance…

After understanding the importance of browser security and what may happen if we use browsers that do not have security standards, it is time to know about these standards. We start with the standard or technology of “Sandboxing”, which is used to run browsers in a secure and isolated environment from your device so that it does not get infected with viruses or malware if present, where the technology separates malicious applications running on the internet from accessing local devices and resources. Fortunately, most browsers already support this technology such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari.

If you are browsing the internet and are surprised by a pop-up window from nowhere, this means that your browser does not have the second security standard, which is “Pop-up blocking”. As the name suggests, this technology works to prevent random windows, which can be the bait used by hackers to catch their victims, from appearing on the screen. Clicking on these sudden windows may redirect you to a site or page infected with malware, which could damage your device, so the browser must eliminate them from the start.

Do you remember the consequences of someone exploiting your browser for the purpose of mining digital currency? Do not worry about this if your browser has the “Crypto miner blocking” technology, or blocking the digital currency mining codes that use the miner to exploit your browser and device, so they cannot reach you.

Cookies are a nightmare for anyone who fears being tracked and their data exploited. We did not hear about these things in the old days, but today, almost all websites use cookies to profit from tracking you and then selling your data to advertisers to know where the shoulder is eaten and target you with the right ads. Some browsers kindly block all cookies or scripts used to collect our data in what is known as “Blocking cookies”.

Browsers are no longer valued for the raw features they bring and the need for plugins has become extremely necessary, as there are plugins that change font size, plugins to relieve the eye by applying dark mode, for example, as well as plugins that correct language like “Grammarly”. These plugins bring the browser to life to an indispensable degree, but the problem is that there are infected plugins that will get you in trouble if installed on your browser. And the solution? Do not use plugins before reading user reviews, or just make sure to use a browser that scans plugins before installing them, as Google Chrome and Firefox do.

Click on any link of a website you use on your browser and you will find the word “https”, which is an advanced protocol over the “HTTP” protocol that has become obsolete. That protocol was not encrypted and was full of security vulnerabilities that hackers exploited to access their victims, so the strong “HTTPS” protocol was developed, which added a layer of protection. Unfortunately, some websites still stand on the remnants using the old protocol to this day, which exposes their visitors to the risk of hacking. The good news is that the presence of the HTTPS-Only Mode option in browsers blocks access to these unencrypted sites, protecting you.

In many websites we visit, we see videos playing in the background, ads appearing everywhere and popping up all the time, as well as bizarre and creepy interactive elements. These things happen by running script code in the background using Javascript language, and although this makes the web page interactive, it exposes it to cyber attacks at the same time, as is the case on websites that use the “HTTP” protocol. Thankfully, some browsers use technology to prevent the mentioned programming language from working in the background, and this technology is called Blocking JavaScript.

When you type a website address like Facebook (www.facebook.com) in the browser’s address bar and press “Enter,” you are not directed directly because the browser does not understand this raw text, but rather looks first in the DNS directory or “Domain Name System” to check for this website whose address you wrote and directs you to it, and vice versa. The problem is that the DNS leaves a trace behind that can be exploited by hackers or even your Internet Service Provider ISP to see your online activities. To solve this problem, some browsers darken the activity or trace of the DNS by using the “HTTPS” protocol, known as the DNS-over-HTTPS technology.

Let us shock you and say that no matter what browser, whether Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, or Opera, it does not have the full security mark, and this is not due to technical vulnerabilities and issues alone, but also because of the users themselves, not to mention that browsers in general are not secure by default; they just want to provide you with a good browsing experience, otherwise they would not allow the presence of cookies or pop-up windows or videos playing in the background, etc.

To achieve a considerable level of security when using browsers, you need to do it yourself – through plugins, for example, but do not forget to ensure their safety – and if you think that a browser like Google Chrome is safe, you need to review your accounts. It is worth mentioning that Chrome in particular violates user privacy to a large extent because Google’s policies – responsible for developing Chrome – appoint advertisers to do so.

Browsers like Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge care more about user privacy than Google Chrome, for example, and you will find in their settings what can be customized to protect you more. Ultimately, remember that the greater part of the responsibility lies with users and their decisions, as it is not logical for someone to download games from pirated sites and then blame the browser if it is hacked!