So you just installed your preferred
web browser, Mozilla's Firefox or Google Chrome -- it doesn't really matter --, what to do next?
Before you start surfing, you better get prepared, 'cause
"it's a wild world out there!". And with few
add-ons/extensions that's pretty simple.
Nowadays, the Internet "
is a criminals' preferred pathway for spreading malware", so why not use some easy tools increase your protection and help decide who's trustable?
WOT
WOT is a award winning add-on, completely free, available to
firefox and
chorme, and downloaded more than 23 millions times, that "
shows you which websites you can trust based on millions of users' experiences." It adds a small circle next to the web address bar that like a traffic-light indicates if the site is trusted:
the
greener the safer
reddish meaning the opposite
and
yellowish the spectrum in between
Additionally, if the website you're about to enter has a
really bad reputation, WOT will show a big warning and block the site.
And, of course,
WOT is also a
community you can make part of if you feel like sharing your opinion to help others and collaborate building the largest community driven World Wide Web reputation data-base.
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Adblock for Chrome
Adblock Plus for Firefox
These two add-ons/extensions are originally intended to block the annoying publicity one finds all over the Wild Web. But it can also be used to block links that distributes malwares -- just a matter of using the appropriate filter-list.
I've picked two different softwares on purpose, although
Adblock Plus is actually available to either Chrome of Firefox indistinctly, while
Adblock is available to both Chrome and Safari, but not to Firefox. Coincidently I happen to prefer
Adblock Plus on Firefox and
Adblock for Chrome, not only for this reason, but also because it was under this combination that the malware filter intended was easily installed.
So
first thing's first: install Adblock/
Adblock Plus into your webrowser (which won't be covered here, but is quite easy or at least easily findable). In
Firefox will need to relaunch the browser (at least as of the time being this post is written under version 9.0.1) and on
Chrome the installation of extensions doesn't require the relaunch of the application.
Once this is done, you might need to choose a publicity filter for your country/region or based on your language, but you can also skip this is you really enjoys publicity.
The installation process is also very easy and involves clicking on one link relative to the
List of Malware Domains on
this page or simply click directly on
this subscription link and wait for the installation to begin.
A window should come up to let you know the subscription when throughout with no problem.
Additionally, you can check what lists you've subscribed to under the
options of
Adblock/
Adblock Plus.
No further actions is required. Adblock/Plus will automatically block your connections to the links that appears on the list you've subscribed to for their known relation with malware distribution.
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There you are. Now you can surf the World
Wild Web with security.
