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Browser security is the application of internet security to web browsers to protect computer systems, networks, and data, from malware or breaches of privacy. Browser security exploits often use JavaScript - sometimes with cross-site scripting (XSS)^[1] - sometimes with a secondary payload using Adobe Flash,^[2] but can also take advantage of many other vulnerabilities (security holes) that are commonly exploited in all browsers; including Mozilla Firefox,^[3] Google Chrome,^[4] Opera^[5] and Microsoft Internet Explorer.^[6]

Security[link]

Breaches of browser security are usually for the purpose of bypassing protections to display pop-up advertising^[7] collecting personally identifiable information (PII) for either internet marketing or identity theft, website tracking or web analytics about a user against their will using tools such as web bugs, Clickjacking, Likejacking (where Facebook's like button is targeted)^{[8][9][10][11]}, HTTP cookies, zombie cookies or Flash cookies (Local Shared Objects or LSOs);^[2] installing adware, viruses, spyware such as Trojan horses (to gain access to users' personal computers via cracking) or other malware including online banking theft using man-in-the-browser attacks.

Vulnerabilities in the browser software itself can be minimised by keeping browser software updated, ^[12] but will not be sufficient if the underlying operating system is compromised, for example, by a rootkit.^[13] Some subcomponents of browsers such as scripting, add-ons, and cookies^{[citation needed]} are particularly vulnerable ("the confused deputy problem") and also need to be addressed.

Following the principle of defence in depth, a fully patched and correctly configured browser may not be sufficient to ensure that browser-related security issues can occur. For example, a rootkit can capture keystrokes while someone logs into a banking website, or carry out a man-in-the-middle attack by modifying network traffic to and from a web browser. DNS hijacking or DNS spoofing may be used to return false positives for mistyped website names, or to subvert search results for popular search engines. Malware such as RSPlug simply modifies a system's configuration to point at rogue DNS servers.

Browsers can use more secure methods of network communication to help prevent some of these attacks:

• DNS: DNSSec and DNSCrypt, for example with non-default DNS servers such as Google Public DNS or OpenDNS.
• HTTP: HTTP Secure and SPDY with digitally signed public key certificates or Extended Validation Certificates.

Perimeter defenses, typically through firewalls and the use of filtering proxy servers that block malicious websites and perform antivirus scans of any file downloads, are commonly implemented as a best practice in large organisations to block malicious network traffic before it reaches a browser.

Plugins and extensions[link]

Although not part of the browser per se, browser plugins and extensions extend the attack surface, exposing vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player, Java plugin, and ActiveX that are commonly exploited. Malware may also be implemented as a browser extension, such as a browser helper object in the case of Internet Explorer.^[14]

US-CERT recommends to block Flash using NoScript.^[15] Charlie Miller recommended "not to install Flash"^[16] at the computer security conference CanSecWest. Several other security experts also recommend to either not install Flash or to block it.^[17]

Privacy[link]

Flash[link]

An August 2009 study by the Social Science Research Network found that 50% of websites using Flash were also employing flash cookies, yet privacy policies rarely disclosed them, and user controls for privacy preferences were lacking.^[18] Most browsers' cache and history suppress or delete functions do not affect Flash Player's writing Local Shared Objects to its own cache, and the user community is much less aware of the existence and function of Flash cookies than HTTP cookies.^[19]Thus, users having deleted HTTP cookies and purged browser history files and caches may believe that they have purged all tracking data from their computers when in fact Flash browsing history remains. As well as manual removal, the BetterPrivacy addon for Firefox can remove Flash cookies.^[2] Adblock Plus can be used to filter out specific threats^[7] and Flashblock can be used to give an option before allowing content on otherwise trusted sites.^[20]

Browser hardening[link]

Browsing the internet as a least-privilege user account (i.e. without administrator privileges) limits the ability of a security exploit in a web browser from compromising the whole operating system.^[21]

Internet Explorer 7 added "protected mode", a technology that hardens the browser through the application of a security sandboxing feature of Windows Vista called Mandatory Integrity Control.^[22] Google Chrome followed suit in 2011.^[23]

There are third-party extensions and plugins available for some older browsers and operating systems to harden them. Whitelist-based software such as NoScript can block JavaScript and Adobe Flash which is used for most attacks on privacy, allowing users to choose only sites they know are safe - AdBlock also uses whitelist ad filtering rules subscriptions, though both the software itself and the filtering list maintainers have come under controversy for by-default allowing some sites to pass the pre-set filters.^[24]

See also[link]

• Internet safety
• Filter bubble
• Identity Driven Networking
• Network security policy
• OWASP Mantra Security Framework

References[link]

Look up browser or browsing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Browse, browser or browsing may refer to:

• Browse, a kind of orienting strategy in animals and human beings
• Browsing (herbivory), a type of feeding behavior in herbivores
• Web browser, used to access the World Wide Web
• File browser, also known as a file manager, used to manage files and related objects
• Help browser, for reading online help
• Code browser, for navigating source code
• Browser service, a feature of Microsoft Windows to let users browse and locate shared resources in neighboring computers

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X-ray machines and metal detectors are used to control what is allowed to pass through an airport security perimeter.

Security spikes protect a gated community in the East End of London.

Security checkpoint at the entrance to the Delta Air Lines corporate headquarters in Atlanta

Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies (ISECOM) in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection where a separation is created between the assets and the threat". This includes but is not limited to the elimination of either the asset or the threat. Security as a national condition was defined in a United Nations study (1986)^{[citation needed]}, so that countries can develop and progress safely.

Security has to be compared to related concepts: safety, continuity, reliability. The key difference between security and reliability is that security must take into account the actions of people attempting to cause destruction.

Different scenarios also give rise to the context in which security is maintained:

• With respect to classified matter, the condition that prevents unauthorized persons from having access to official information that is safeguarded in the interests of national security.
• Measures taken by a military unit, an activity or installation to protect itself against all acts designed to, or which may, impair its effectiveness.

Perceived security compared to real security[link]

Perception of security may be poorly mapped to measureable objective security. For example, the fear of earthquakes has been reported to be more common than the fear of slipping on the bathroom floor although the latter kills many more people than the former.^[1] Similarly, the perceived effectiveness of security measures is sometimes different from the actual security provided by those measures. The presence of security protections may even be taken for security itself. For example, two computer security programs could be interfering with each other and even cancelling each other's effect, while the owner believes s/he is getting double the protection.

Security theater is a critical term for deployment of measures primarily aimed at raising subjective security in a population without a genuine or commensurate concern for the effects of that measure on—and possibly decreasing—objective security. For example, some consider the screening of airline passengers based on static databases to have been Security Theater and Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System to have created a decrease in objective security.

Perception of security can also increase objective security when it affects or deters malicious behavior, as with visual signs of security protections, such as video surveillance, alarm systems in a home, or an anti-theft system in a car such as a vehicle tracking system or warning sign.

Since some intruders will decide not to attempt to break into such areas or vehicles, there can actually be less damage to windows in addition to protection of valuable objects inside. Without such advertisement, a car-thief might, for example, approach a car, break the window, and then flee in response to an alarm being triggered. Either way, perhaps the car itself and the objects inside aren't stolen, but with perceived security even the windows of the car have a lower chance of being damaged, increasing the financial security of its owner(s).

However, the non-profit, security research group, ISECOM, has determined that such signs may actually increase the violence, daring, and desperation of an intruder ^[2] This claim shows that perceived security works mostly on the provider and is not security at all.^[3]

It is important, however, for signs advertising security not to give clues as to how to subvert that security, for example in the case where a home burglar might be more likely to break into a certain home if he or she is able to learn beforehand which company makes its security system.

Categorising security[link]

There is an immense literature on the analysis and categorisation of security. Part of the reason for this is that, in most security systems, the "weakest link in the chain" is the most important. The situation is asymmetric since the 'defender' must cover all points of attack while the attacker need only identify a single weak point upon which to concentrate.

Types[link]

• Aviation security is a combination of material and human resources and measures intended to counter unlawful interference with aviation.
• Operations Security (OPSEC) is a complement to other "traditional" security measures that evaluates the organization from an adversarial perspective.^[4]

Security concepts[link]

Certain concepts recur throughout different fields of security:

• Assurance - assurance is the level of guarantee that a security system will behave as expected
• Countermeasure - a countermeasure is a way to stop a threat from triggering a risk event
• Defense in depth - never rely on one single security measure alone
• Exploit - a vulnerability that has been triggered by a threat - a risk of 1.0 (100%)
• Risk - a risk is a possible event which could cause a loss
• Threat - a threat is a method of triggering a risk event that is dangerous
• Vulnerability - a weakness in a target that can potentially be exploited by a threat security

Security management in organizations[link]

In the corporate world, various aspects of security were historically addressed separately - notably by distinct and often noncommunicating departments for IT security, physical security, and fraud prevention. Today there is a greater recognition of the interconnected nature of security requirements,^[5] an approach variously known as holistic security, "all hazards" management, and other terms.

Inciting factors in the convergence of security disciplines include the development of digital video surveillance technologies (see Professional video over IP) and the digitization and networking of physical control systems (see SCADA).^[6][7] Greater interdisciplinary cooperation is further evidenced by the February 2005 creation of the Alliance for Enterprise Security Risk Management, a joint venture including leading associations in security (ASIS), information security (ISSA, the Information Systems Security Association), and IT audit (ISACA, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association).^[8]

In 2007 the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) released ISO 28000 - Security Management Systems for the supply chain. Although the title supply chain is included, this Standard specifies the requirements for a security management system, including those aspects critical to security assurance for any organisation or enterprise wishing to management the security of the organisation and its activities. ISO 28000 is the foremost risk based security system and is suitable for managing both public and private regulatory security, customs and industry based security schemes and requirements.

People in the security business[link]

Computer security[link]

• Ross J. Anderson
• Dan Geer
• Andrew Odlyzko
• Bruce Schneier
• Eugene Spafford

National security[link]

• Richard A. Clarke
• David H. Holtzman

Physical security[link]

• James F. Pastor

See also[link]

References[link]