Browser Risks

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Last Updated on: May 10, 2010 10:11 AM

Phishing (spoofing)

As it relates to web browsers, spoofing is a term used to describe methods of faking various parts of the browser user interface. This may include the address or location bar, the status bar, the padlock, or other user interface elements. Phishing attacks often utilize some form of spoofing to help convince the user to provide personal information. If a user's browser is vulnerable to spoofing, they are more likely to fall victim to a phishing attack.

Spyware

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent while the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party.

Cookies

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to store data that is used by a web site. A cookie can contain any information that a web site is designed to place in it. Cookies may contain information about the sites you visited, or may even contain credentials for accessing the site. Cookies are designed to be readable only by the web site that created them.

Session cookies are cleared when the browser is closed, and persistent cookies will remain on the computer until the specified expiration date is reached.Cookies can be used to uniquely identify visitors of a web site, which some people consider a violation of privacy. If a web site uses cookies for authentication, then an attacker may be able to acquire unauthorized access to that site by obtaining the cookie. Persistent cookies pose a higher risk than session cookies because they remain on the computer longer.

Pop-ups

Pop-ups are a small windowpane that opens automatically on your browser. Generally, they show advertising, which can be from legitimate company, but also may be scams or dangerous software. It works when certain websites are opened. Pop-up ads can be part of a phishing scam designed to trap you into revealing your personal or financial information as you visit web sites. Some times pop-ups mislead you like when ever pop-ups come you click on close or cancel on the window. But some times advertisers create a pop-up window that look similar to a close or cancel option so when ever user choose such options the button performs an unexpected action like opening another pop-up window, performing unauthorized commands on your system.

Not all pop-ups are bad Some web sites use pop-up windows for particular tasks. You might have to view the window in order to complete that task.