Now I do come from the camp of folks that say that Firefox is mainly safe because it is not the tallest nail getting hit at this moment. Internet Explorer is harder hit on by those who wish to do you harm, so that is one reason why it is less safe than Firefox.
On the other hand though, Firefox is a “stupider” browser (no offense to my Mozilla friends) so it is harder for deviants out there to get it to do their evil deeds.
No matter if you like Firefox or not, you have to admit there are a lot of great extensions out there that can make your browsing a lot safer. Nothing beats common sense, but having some of these extensions installed should be a good first line of defense.
For those folks out there who are extra suspicious about the browsing they do Online, and want to really be safe - picking up NoScript might be a good idea. Once you install this, no JavaScript or Java will be able to run via a Web site without getting your permission first.
Do you like to pretend that you are a super secret spy when browing the Web? Maybe you just don’t want that nosy brother or sister looking in on what you have been doing. No matter the situation, if you want to stay secret - the Stealther Firefox extension is for you.
You can think of SiteAdvisor as a good second opinion when you are browsing the Web. You know, the kind of second opinion you ask for when you go to the doctor after he tells you your leg is about to fall off. This makes staying away from the “bad” areas of the Web a lot easier to do. I just wish they would make that damn button a little smaller in the status bar.
We all like to stay clear of things that might be bad for us Online. McAfee’s SiteAdvisor has done a great job in filtering the Web and letting us know what is safe and what might not be so safe. Is there an alternative out there though? Yes there is, and the name of it is WOT. Think of it as an alternative to what SiteAdvisor does.
This extension allows you to use the power of PhishTank to make your browsing experiance a little safer. It does a really good job at blocking you from visiting Web sites that have been known to be a hazard for other Internet visitors as well. If you wish to, you can choose to visit the link anyways or you can learn more about why it might be a good idea if you avoid it.
Now I am not afraid to mention that this whole proxy switching thing never made too much sense to me. Then again, I never feel the need to be sneaky or need to get around anywhere to get my browsing done. For those of you who do feel sneaky or need a work around to browse, I have found the perfect companion for your Firefox browser. FoxyProxy is the way to go.
Want Firefox to help you encrypt your secret files and documents? Maybe you just want to learn more about the encryption process? No matter which camp you fall into, the Fire Encrypter Firefox extension is for you. It brings the top secret world of encryption right into your favorite little browser.
Want more control over your cookies? No, I’m not talking about the ones your grandmother loves to shove down your throat - I am talking about the ones that involve your browser. The Firefox extension CookieCuller gives you total control over which cookies stay on your computer by letting you protect cookies of your choice while automatically deleting the rest.
With all this talk about your privacy being attacked and people snooping on what you have been searching about, you are bound to feel a little paranoid. You might be watching over your shoulder as you type. You might be turning the lights out before you get Online. How can you protect yourself from being tracked in your searches though? If you use Firefox, you need the TrackMeNot extension.
Have another extension you think should be mentioned? Leave a comment and share it with us all.
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