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What Your Browser Says About You and Security Tips

January 14, 2009 Media, Security 4 Comments

Internet Explorer users are complacent, compliant, and by-the-books types of people.

Mozilla Firefox users are rebels, trying to change the world. They also want things their way.

Google Chrome users are Kool-Aid drinking conformists with fickle loyalty.

Safari… don’t get me started on Safari users!

No, this post doesn’t try to describe your personality based on what browser you use. Instead…
Along with the anonymous surfing test I mentioned in an article on AuditMyPC.com, another site gives you a much more technical read-out regarding the information your browser is just too excited to tell web servers that it visits and what it tells is all about you. You can visit the Privacy.net Analyzer to find out everything your browser reveals to websites.

Some of this information might make you more susceptible to malicious websites, but regardless any website you visit could grab this info with the write code. You can then decide whether you want to switch browsers (Mozilla Firefox), disable scripting (NoScript plug-in for Firefox), add a hardware firewall, or look into privacy & security related plug-ins like Web Of Trust.

What you can learn from the Privacy.net Analyzer varies wide and far including:

browser and version of that browser
open ports and firewall status
browser security
your layout (resolution)
scripting languages enabled
your operating system
plug-ins installed (like Flash, Acrobat, etc.)
Java
connection info
where you’re located
your IP address including a traceroute and your domain

See what your browser has to say about you with the Privacy.net Analyzer.

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Jason Hamilton

Jason Hamilton is an IT Professional in his full-time job and operates 404 Tech Support LLC in his spare time from Central Illinois. Send us a story suggestion or inquire about advertising on 404TechSupport.com with the Contact Page.

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chewbie

I use chrome at home and Firefox at work (would use chrome at work too) – It was hard giving up the plugins but the extra speed and snappiness was worth it.

I use firewalls, antivirus, know malware from legit sites, havn’t had a virus for years.
As for loyalty, Firefox has been extra-slow, even if it’s open source and developed by many people, it started letting me down – Chrome re-won my faith in the open-source community
http://www.404techsupport.com 404 Tech Support

Haha! I agree. I fully believe competition is best for the consumer, even when it comes to open-source projects like this. Chrome giving Firefox competition keeps them motivated and inspired. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see separate processes introduced into Firefox 4 because of Chrome’s proven performance peak.

Personally, the plug-ins make the browser for me. Even going with Firefox 3 when one of my favorite plug-ins (Tab Mix Plus) hadn’t been updated yet.

That being said, I hope you didn’t take the first part of this post personally. It was certainly not the point of the article.

As an educated user, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Security issues are a concern for the uneducated users.
Irritated reader

Please update your spelling dictionary to always mark “irregardless” as misspelled. Its use really detracts from you public image. You should train yourself to not use the word regardless of the circumstances.

/www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless
Irritated reader

Yes, I saw the typo (not a spelling error, just a dropped letter) in my previous post. …detracts from your…