Comments on: 6 Security Tips For Today’s Dangerous Internet

By: AJNorth

AJNorth — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 06:10:56 +0000

Thank you for the timely reminders and your outline of procedures, Richard.

Amongst several other useful articles to help people use the Internet safely is “How to Test a Suspicious Link Without Clicking It” —
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-test-a-suspicious-link-without-clicking-it-2487171 (in particular, the section titled “SCAN THE LINK WITH A LINK SCANNER”).

Also, for Firefox and Chromium-based browsers (the only two I install on clients’ machines), I strongly recommend these four extensions: uBlock Origin, NoScript, HTTPS Everywhere and Privacy Badger (the last two from the outstanding Electronic Frontier Foundation).

Yes, uBlock Origin, NoScript and Privacy Badger can be a tad annoying to set up for individual sites, but the level of protection they offer is more than worth the effort and time (IMHO).

Finally, the isolation-environment utility Sandboxie, which has been acquired by the security software firm Sophos, is now free — https://www.sandboxie.com/ (though one is required to supply their name and email address). Running one’s browser in Sandboxie’s sandbox adds another strong layer of protection.

By: Richard Pedersen

Richard Pedersen — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:00:40 +0000

In reply to Mindblower.

Hi Mindblower,

I appreciate your input, but what I find sad is that we need these defenses to begin with. I come from a time (in the ’50s) when people respected each other for the most part.I don’t’ see things changing for the better.
Maybe I’m just old and crusty,
Richard

By: Mindblower

Mindblower — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 21:46:49 +0000

There are two free browser addons that can help users with security. I know they work on Firefox, but they may also work on Chrome.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard and Ghosterly Private Ad Blocker.

For added security there is AdGuard. Not sure if they have a free version or not, Mindblower!

By: Thomas Linton

Thomas Linton — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:32:33 +0000

Yes, it was a good run. I have enjoyed playing on the Internet since before 95. That is back in the phone modem days for me. I still have my Internet Explorer t-shirt for being one of the first to download that browser. It took me most of the night to download IE. Now I typically run 3 browsers at the same time and kick in an additional 2 when needed.
Back then the Internet was a great place to explore. Now, you have to constantly dodge adds with useless offers that just get in the way and navigate through the swamp of traps by corporations and nefarious groups wanting money.
It is time for a revolution. Actually, it is overdue. I am surprised someone has not come up with a “new” internet built on the errors of the first try. I would even pay for a service that screened out advertisers and bad guys. It is likely too late as the greedy giants of the Internet would crush any attempt.