1. Practising Safer Web Browsing Terry Labach Information Security Services IST February 17, 2012

2. "People are terrible about making security tradeoffs. If you give a naive user a choice, such as, 'If you want to see the dancing pigs, you could be compromising your machine,' most users will choose the dancing pigs over security every time." - Bruce Schneier, security author and consultant, on how computer users manage risks while using the Internet. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC. 20060803.TWVISTA03/TPStory/Business] 2 Practising Safer Web Browsing

3. Outline The risks The threats Taking responsibility Browser configuration Browser tools Questions Practising Safer Web Browsing 3

4. The risks Embarrassment Identity theft Financial loss Loss of productivity Practising Safer Web Browsing 4

5. Criminals Businesses The threats Government Practising Safer Web Browsing 5

6. Taking responsibility The basics –Use good passwords Not in dictionary Reasonably long with mix of characters –Don’t reuse passwords Don’t let browser save passwords –Master password –Password vault Practising Safer Web Browsing 6

7. "You know, I almost bore myself when I say to myself, 'It's time to get the groceries,' I certainly don't want to put it out there for people to read." - Eugene Levy, comedian, talking about Twitter in a Canadian Press interview. 7 Practising Safer Web Browsing

8. Taking responsibility Thoughtful browsing –Don’t give up personal information Date of birth Postal code or location Vacation schedule Social Insurance Number! Practising Safer Web Browsing 8

9. Taking responsibility Secret questions –Use with caution –Might be easier to reset your password than you think Fun With Secret Questions & Answers Practising Safer Web Browsing 9

10. Taking responsibility Maintain safe environment –Keep operating system, browser up to date –Apply security patches –Be cautious using public Wi-Fi –Use secure communications (https) Practising Safer Web Browsing 10

11. Taking responsibility Clicking on links can introduce attacks –Poisoned search results –Clickjacking –Cross-site scripting Practising Safer Web Browsing 11

12. Taking responsibility Installing software –Know what software needed for sites you browse –Enter software web site address yourself, don’t click link –Don’t install software for unknown file types or oddly named files Practising Safer Web Browsing 12

13. Taking responsibility Separate browsing environments –Have one user login id for social networking, etc.; a different id for financial transactions Virtual machines (advanced) –Use separate virtual computers on your PC for browsing with different security needs –High security virtual machine has no unneeded software Practising Safer Web Browsing 13

14. Browser configuration General principles –Protect your information –Protect your privacy –Disallow access and execution Exceptions –You will want to break these principles for good reasons at times –Use principles as your default Practising Safer Web Browsing 14

15. Browser configuration Firefox –Disable Java and JavaScript –Disable save passwords (or use master password) Practising Safer Web Browsing 15

16. Browser configuration Internet Explorer –Apply high security setting to Internet zone –Limit cookie permissions –Do not allow third party extensions Practising Safer Web Browsing 16

17. Browser configuration Safari –Disable Java and JavaScript –Block pop-up windows –Disable opening of so-called safe files Practising Safer Web Browsing 17

18. Browser configuration Chrome –Limit cookie permissions –Web content settings Practising Safer Web Browsing 18

19. Humans…have unacceptable speed and accuracy…. (They are also large, expensive to maintain, difficult to manage, and they pollute the environment. It is astonishing that these devices continue to be manufactured and deployed. But they are sufficiently pervasive that we must design our protocols around their limitations.) - C. Kaufman, R. Perlman, & M. Speciner in Network Security: PRIVATE Communication in a PUBLIC World 19 Practising Safer Web Browsing

20. Tools NoScript –http://noscript.net/http://noscript.net/ –Blocks JavaScript and defends against other potentially malicious content –Swiss Army Knife of protection Practising Safer Web Browsing 20

21. Tools Web of Trust (WOT) –http://www.mywot.com/http://www.mywot.com/ –Ranks websites based on feedback from WOT users –Adds links to search engine results Practising Safer Web Browsing 21

22. Tools Ghostery –http://www.ghostery.com/http://www.ghostery.com/ –Detect and block 3rd party tracking –Shows the elements of web pages served from third parties Practising Safer Web Browsing 22

23. Tools Do Not Track Plus –http://www.donottrackplus.com/http://www.donottrackplus.com/ –Detect and block 3rd party tracking –Shows you who is tracking you Practising Safer Web Browsing 23

24. Tools View Thru –https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jkn cfnbcgbclefkbknfdbngiegdppgddhttps://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jkn cfnbcgbclefkbknfdbngiegdppgdd –Displays the target of shortened URLs –Known to be flaky in use Practising Safer Web Browsing 24

25. Tools HTTPS Everywhere –https://www.eff.org/https-everywherehttps://www.eff.org/https-everywhere –Forces use of https protocol on web pages that support it Practising Safer Web Browsing 25

26. Tools Adblock Plus –http://adblockplus.org/en/http://adblockplus.org/en/ –Blocks ads while browsing Practising Safer Web Browsing 26

27. Resources - User safety CERT - Securing Your Web Browser SANS - Browser Safety SANS - Secure Browsing Environment Canadian Cyber Incident Response CentreCanadian Cyber Incident Response Centre U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness TeamU.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team Practising Safer Web Browsing 27

28. Resources - Browsers Firefox –Privacy & SecurityPrivacy & Security Internet Explorer –Improve the safety of your browsing and e-mail activitiesImprove the safety of your browsing and e-mail activities Safari –Security & PrivacySecurity & Privacy Chrome –Manage privacy and security settingsManage privacy and security settings Practising Safer Web Browsing 28

29. Resources – Tools discussed NoScript Web of Trust Ghostery View Thru HTTPS Everywhere AdBlock Plus Do Not Track Plus Practising Safer Web Browsing 29

30. Resources – Other Tools Facecloak –Protect user privacy on Facebook Qualys BrowserCheck –ensures browser and plugins are up to date Trashmail –lets you use a disposable email address LastPass –Secure password vault Practising Safer Web Browsing 30

31. Resources – Waterloo IST Information Security Services Terry Labach –Web application security Consulting Testing applications Ethical hacking Programming best practices –Web training and education Practising Safer Web Browsing 31

32. Questions? Practising Safer Web Browsing 32