We live in a zetabyte era where tremendous amount of information beyond trillions of gigabytes is traveling in the airwaves. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that with technology everywhere around us, criminal-minded people are hijacking browsers.
At first, it doesn’t seem reasonable, but browser hijacking is very much real these days. All is accomplished through simple yet deadly software that can seep into your browser and adjust various settings without your permission.
According to a recent study by Patch Stack, a malicious cyber-attack occurs every 39 seconds on an average, including data and identity theft. Furthermore, a 2019 cybersecurity report found that breaches have increased by 67% from the previous five years.
Moreover, 73% of black hat hackers say that traditional firewalls and antivirus security programs are often outdated and obsolete. Not to mention that more than 30,000 websites are hacked every day, with 65 million new malware produced in just about four months’ time.
In light of this information, let’s take a quick look at some of the ways you can keep your browser safe from being hijacked in 2021.
Antivirus with Real Time Protection
Antivirus that offers real-time protection enables your system to detect and neutralize threats in real-time. This can include adware and other apps that may intrude your browsing and surfing time and harm your device to exploit personal data. Therefore you should consider using those antivirus programs that are equipped to deal with problems as they arise in real-time. Here are some great choices of antivirus programs that provide you with real-time protection:
- Avast Free Antivirus
- AVG AntiVirus
- Avira Free Antivirus
- Bitdefender Antivirus
- Kaspersky Security Cloud
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Beware of Malicious Ads and Links
One way your browser may become infected is by clicking a malicious ad or link. A malvertising attack is defined as malicious code that is inserted in an online advertising link, banner, or even video. To prevent and mitigate such a situation, a layered strategy is the best means to defend yourself.
Usually, suppose you are working in an office, company, or enterprise. In that case, the management takes the responsibility to provide employees with end to end protection with the help of antimalware tools and policies. However, a network-based antimalware tool is most recommended as it could not only monitor but also block malicious content.
Caution for Installing New Software
Authenticity, credibility, genuineness, and trustworthiness are of supreme importance nowadays when using software on your smart gadgets. Installing about anything on your device without verifying the publisher and distributor of a program can result in a major blunder on your part, where those with malicious intent can provide you with a faulty program. Hence it is always best to do your research for a company and their reliability before installing software made by them.
In recent times, many viruses have emerged that attack your computer or device by installing faulty software. Say no to piracy and always buy and use authentic software no matter what. Some of the latest viruses that infected thousands of computer include CryptoMix Clop Ransomware, Cyborg Ransomware, GoBrut, Jekeroo, and Trojan Glupteba, to name a few. Pupils who opt for essay writing service UK are advised not to install software from unknown manufacturer or distributor.
Google Safe Browsing
If you are a Google Chrome user, you should know that the company offers Google Safe Browsing. Google Safe Browsing offers protection for over 4 billion devices every day and shows users warning signs when attempting to navigate to a potentially dangerous site or downloading a dangerous file. You can easily toggle on and off this option from your browser’s settings.
Safe browsing was launched in 2007, and over the years, it has grown stronger than ever. It can immediately identify several red flags in a single time and provide you with notifications and alert messages on screen to protect you from taking a reroute that can prove to be harmful. At Student Essay, young learners are always advised to surf the internet safely with proper software protection.
Keep your Browser and OS Updated
Running outdated software or an OS is simply deplorable. You are inviting cybercrimminals to take advantage of your lack of preparedness and willing not to enjoy the latest features. Software updates and patches are essential, which is why you should take your time out to let them run. This is perhaps the least one can do to protect their system and computing devices. Software updates and patches make your software and tool stronger and more competent to ward off threats.
Conclusion
Of all the nuisances that you come across online and be wary of, browser hijacking is perhaps one of the worst since it happens right under your nose. Companies like Microsoft and others like Google are doing their best these days to prevent web browsers from switching to default user settings. This is because all changes must be performed manually, and this one way to prevent browser hijacking.
I hope this post was able to offer you some meaningful insights as to how you can take actions and precautions to prevent your browser from being hijacked. If you have any further queries regarding the topic, then do leave a mention in the comment section below. That’s it for now. Cheers and all the best for your future endeavors!
Author Bio
Melissa Calvert currently works as a devoted Lifestyle Counselor at Crowd Writer. This is where higher education students can buy assignment from experts specializing in their field of study. During her leisure time, she likes to surf the internet for the latest developments in the world of tech.
