Internet browsing is part of everyday life. Your employees with access to the Internet will check email, visit your company’s site and even browse supplier sites. You may have a buying agent research a new supplier, and they may end up on malicious sites that automatically force downloads.
If your small business isn’t securing Internet browsing and doesn’t follow many of the cybersecurity best practices, you’re putting your data at risk.
What can you do?
Implement safe Internet browsing practices to prevent:
- Access to malicious sites
- Unwanted downloads
Recommendations from an expert in Miami cybersecurity to harden your company’s browsing include:
Automatic Browser Updates
One of the simplest steps you can take to make internet browsing more secure is to enable automatic browser updates. Most browsers will allow you to automatically download and install updates, which will save you time and help keep you safe when you’re online.
Updates patch security holes and vulnerabilities that can put you at risk. Automating the process will ensure that you never put this important step on the back burner.
Automatic updates should include updates to the browser as well as any plug-ins or software that run in the browser environment.
Disable Plug-in or Add-on Installation
Plug-ins and add-ons extend a browser’s functionality and help you take advantage of more advanced features. But these plug-ins and add-ons come from third-party developers and can have security holes that aren’t patched quickly.
Developers can also use plug-ins and add-ons to capture data that you don’t want it to access.
IT teams should disable plug-ins or add-on access so that employees don’t install potentially threatening plug-ins on your business-owned devices.
Turn Off Popups
Popups are major offenders and can lead to immediate file downloads and security issues. Modern browsers will allow you to prevent browsers from opening new windows without your explicit permission.
Unfortunately, there are some legitimate reasons for popups.
So, what can you do in this case? You can allow the popup to alert the user and allow a per-user control system. If you have properly trained users on the best practices for dealing with popups, allowing them to accept or deny requests may be beneficial.
Disable Password Saving Features
Password saving on the browser level is a major security risk that can cause:
- Password leaks
- Access to sensitive data
- Email hacking
- So much more
Your IT team should disable password-saving features on all devices. This single security step will protect your business, and in the event that a device is stolen, there are no risks that the theft will lead to unauthorized access to secure systems.
Whitelist and Blacklist Websites
Firewall rules should be strict, and blacklist known malicious websites. Certain programs, such as Malwarebytes, will also offer this functionality. If you whitelist or blacklist sites, it’s easier to prevent employees from accessing offending URLs.
Internet browsing is only part of the puzzle to create strong cybersecurity practices in a business.
While you can implement many measures, browsing restrictions and hardening is one of the easiest ways to prevent unwanted or malicious software from being downloaded or accessed.