How to secure Firefox Browser

How to secure Firefox, protecting your kids online

 

Internet is an important means of communication in present times. It allows the users to chat, mail, share files and a lot more. Although this web network has become a vital part of our daily lives, it also poses as a threat in some forms. Some individuals misuse and abuse this platform. So, in order to maintain a safe and secure online environment, it is important to have the knowledge of how to protect you and your family from such threats.

If you have children at home, you have to make sure that they are not affected by such sources. The web browsers offer various security features to make browsing experience safe and sound for you and your family.

About Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a well-featured browser for Windows that enhances your browsing experience with its secure, reliable and efficient features. Its features include tabbed- browsing and pop-up blocking. The browser offers security settings and features which you can configure to protect your child from inappropriate content. Here are some ways you can configure Mozilla Firefox to help protect your children’s privacy and safety, and some tips to help you set wise guidelines for your child’s computer use.

Blocking Pop-ups in Firefox

When you are surfing the net, you may experience pop-ups. These are the windows that appear automatically on their own. Some pop-up windows can contain inappropriate content or can be a way for you to accidentally download dangerous spyware or adware onto your computer. Pop-up blocking is turned on by default in Firefox and the browser also allows you to control the pop-ups through the Web features panel.

Keep a track of your children’s online activities

Mozilla Firefox lets you keep a track of your kid’s online activities by reviewing the history of the websites accessed, cookies and the temporary internet files.

 

How to configure the settings in Mozilla Firefox

This section will guide you through a step by step process to configure your settings in Mozilla Firefox.

1. Start the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
2. Select Tools, then Options.

1. Under the Privacy category, select the Cookies tab.

 

1. Under the Privacy category, the Passwords tab contains various options to manage stored passwords, and a Master Password feature to encrypt the data on your system.
2. The Content category has an option to Enable Java.

1. The Warn me when web sites try to install extensions or themes option will display a warning bar at the top of the browser when a web site attempts to take such an action.

 

1. Press the Advanced button to disable specific JavaScript features. We recommend disabling the options displayed in this dialog.

 

1. The Downloads category has an option to modify actions taken when files are downloading. Any time a file type is configured to open automatically with an associated application, this can make the browser more dangerous to use. Click the View & Edit Actions button to view the current download settings and modify them if necessary. The Download Actions dialog box shows the file types and the actions the browser will perform when it encounters a given file type. For any file type listed, click on either Remove Action or Change Action. If you click on Change Action, select save them on my computer to save files of that type to the computer. This helps prevent automated exploitation of vulnerabilities that may exist in these applications.

 

1. Firefox includes a feature to Clear Private Data. This option will remove potentially sensitive information from the web browser. Select Tools from the top menu of your Firefox browser, and then select Clear Private Data to use this privacy feature.