David.R.Gilson

Top five Security & Privacy extensions for Firefox

Nov 26

How-To Guides David 2 Comments
extensions, firefox, privacy, security

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Following on from last week, this is my top five security & privacy extensions for Firefox.

Without further ado:

1. Adblock Plus
   If you annoyed by adverts all over your web page, this will block them out. This may be something of a controversial one because many website owners say they depend on adverts to keep their sites going. I have two things to say that. First, if you’re blocking ads and really like a particular site; send them a donation. Second, from a security point of view, I see most web ad’s as vulnerable avenues of attack.
2. Close n Forget
   By installing the Close n Forget button on your toolbar, you can close the current tab you’re on, along with deleting all of its related cookies and history entries. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it’s worth having.
3. CookieSafe
   This is an extension to prevent web sites from saving cookies on your system. Are able to set site by site permissions, and particularly good, you can block third party cookies.
4. FlashBlock
   This extension will provide embedded Flash objects from being loaded into your page. Instead all you see if a place holder with the Flash icon. If you want to see the Flash object, just click on the place holder and it’ll load in as it was intended. This is particularly handy for sites like Myspace where people have music blasting out as soon as you arrive on their profile page.
5. NoScript *****
   If you install no other Firefox extension, you should install this one. This one will protect you from malicious JavaScripts and other exploits such as “ClickJacking“. It does cause some inconvenience for you, much like CookieSafe, you approve sites on a site by site basis. Therefore, some sites may not work with this active because they rely on Javascript for formating and general function. It’s easy to allow sites to run Javascript though. I think think the inconvenience is worth the security. Given that these days we don’t have to worry so much about old-fashioned viruses and more about “drive by downloads” from malicious websites, NoScript becomes your first line of defence.