Best Practices for Browser Security

On Monday, CERT-In issued a warning regarding multiple vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based), caused by 'out of bounds' memory access in keyboard inputs, out of bounds write in streams API, heap buffer overflow in WebRTC, use after free in dawn, media session, and presentation API. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to compromise systems by tricking victims into opening specially crafted files. Here’s how organizations can stay safe: 1) Immediate Update: ▶️Update Microsoft Edge to the latest stable version (125.0.2535.85 or later). ▶️Enable automatic updates for Edge and other software to get security patches promptly. 2) Awareness & Training: ▶️Educate users on the risks of opening files from unknown sources. ▶️Conduct regular training on the latest cybersecurity threats and safe browsing practices. 3) System Hardening: ▶️Apply the principle of least privilege (PoLP) by restricting user permissions. ▶️Use security features like Windows Defender Application Guard to isolate browser sessions. 4) Security Tools: ▶️Deploy and update endpoint protection solutions to detect and block malicious activities. ▶️Implement web filtering tools to prevent access to malicious websites. 5) Monitoring & Incident Response: ▶️Set up monitoring systems to detect unusual activity. ▶️Develop and update an incident response plan, ensuring all team members know their roles. 6) Audits & Penetration Testing: ▶️Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to proactively identify and fix vulnerabilities. ▶️Review and test security controls regularly. 7) Backup & Recovery Plan: ▶️Maintain regular backups of critical data and test them periodically. ▶️Develop a disaster recovery plan to restore systems and data quickly after a breach. 8) Patch Management: ▶️Implement a robust patch management process for all software. ▶️Schedule regular maintenance to apply patches without disrupting operations. #CyberSecurity #CERTIn #MicrosoftEdge #UpdateNow #StaySafeOnline

Friendly reminder from: your browser is not a password manager. I did a quick lab test a couple of nights ago with Firefox: export the profile, run a free Python script from GitHub… and boom – all saved passwords in cleartext in a few seconds. I dropped a screenshot in the post so you can see what that looks like. And no, this isn’t some 0-day wizardry. If someone gets access to your machine or your profile (think: stolen laptop, malware, rogue insider, weak local security), your browser’s "saved passwords" are basically a convenience buffet. Especially in times, where info-stealers run wild - they love this stuff and exfiltrate your passwords faster than you can blink. Many environments don’t use a strong master password or proper OS-level protection, so it’s even easier than you’d hope. Why this matters: - Browsers happily store logins for VPN portals, internal tools, admin panels, cloud consoles, mail, you name it. - Once those creds are dumped, attackers don’t need to “hack” anything anymore. They just log in. - You lose any control over password policies, rotation, logging, and sharing. Much better: use a proper password manager, strong unique passwords, and MFA wherever possible... and you can of course block browser password saving via policy in corporate environments. You know... the basics. Convenience is nice, but not "here, have all my keys - go crazy"-kinda nice. How do you (or your company) handle browser password saving today? Y'all allow, restrict or fully block it? #cybersecurity #infosec #passwords #blueteam #redteam #firefox #securityawareness

Browser Fingerprinting: The Silent Threat to Privacy Compliance Starting February this year, #Google will roll out a controversial update allowing advertisers to use browser fingerprinting to track users. Unlike cookies, this technique uses device and browser characteristics to create unique user identifiers—posing serious privacy and #compliance #risks. What is Browser Fingerprinting? Imagine walking into a room, and without saying a word, people figure out who you are based on your clothes, mannerisms, or even your perfume. Browser fingerprinting works similarly. It doesn’t rely on cookies but instead identifies users by piecing together clues like: - Device Info: Operating system, browser type, and device model. - Browser Configuration: Installed fonts, plugins, and extensions. - Screen Details: Resolution, orientation, and color depth. - Network Data: Time zones, language settings, and sometimes even IP addresses. Why should privacy professionals care? The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (#ico) has warned businesses about the risks of fingerprinting. If it’s used without proper transparency or legal grounds, organizations could face regulatory action. Here’s why browser fingerprinting is a serious concern: a) It bypasses user control: Unlike cookies, it doesn’t require consent, leaving users unaware or unable to manage it. b) It’s hard to detect Fingerprinting can’t be spotted easily—it requires specialized forensic tools. c) It’s persistent Clearing #cookies or browser data doesn’t stop it. Tracking continues. What can #privacy professionals do? To address browser fingerprinting and ensure compliance, follow these steps: 1) Audit your tools Identify internal scripts or third-party tools using fingerprinting techniques. 2) Collaborate with Tech Teams Reduce the attributes used for fingerprinting or explore alternatives. 3) Be transparent Clearly disclose #fingerprinting practices in your privacy policies. 4) Vet vendors Identify tools using fingerprinting aggressively. Disable such settings or replace non-compliant vendors. 5) Implement continuous monitoring Use automated processes for regular #audits, as tools and settings can change frequently. How is your organization addressing #browser fingerprinting? We’d love to hear your thoughts! 👇

𝗗𝗼 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹 any agentic browsers like OpenAI Atlas right now. It sounds exciting, an AI browser that can read, summarize, and even take actions for you. But cybersecurity researchers just revealed something worrying. These browsers can be tricked by words. According to 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲'𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 (Oct 2025), websites can hide invisible text, white on white, or hidden in screenshots, which acts like secret instructions for your AI. Your AI browser can’t tell the difference. So it just… follows orders. That means a malicious site could quietly tell your browser to: → fetch sensitive data, → open your email or banking account, → or share information with third parties. This attack is called a 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and it’s the AI version of phishing. Except this time, hackers don’t need to trick you. They just trick your AI. Search Engine Journal and Brave both confirmed this risk applies to several AI browsers, not just Atlas. Traditional browser security (like sandboxing or same-origin policies) doesn’t stop it, because the AI is acting on your behalf. So before you jump on the hype train, here’s how to stay safe 👇 ✅ Don’t use AI browsers while logged into work accounts, CRMs, or finance tools. ✅ Review permissions, know what data your AI tool can access. ✅ Stick to verified, official sources for downloads and updates. ✅ Educate your team, “smart” tools still need guardrails. AI browsers are powerful, but power without boundaries is a risk. Wait for these tools to mature before integrating them into your daily workflows. Because sometimes, the smartest tools can make the dumbest mistakes. Share this with your AI team before they try any #AI browser.

Work starts in the browser. Does your security? Think about it. Email. Customer data. Payroll. Source code. Financial dashboards. Even generative AI prompts. For most organizations, the browser has quietly become the primary workspace—where business really gets done. But many security strategies still focus on network controls, endpoint agents, and MFA, while losing visibility into what happens inside the browser session itself. That’s exactly the gap attackers exploit. Phishing kits today steal session cookies to bypass MFA entirely. Shadow SaaS adoption flourishes without oversight. Employees paste sensitive customer data into AI tools without triggering any DLP policies. Data exfiltrates via copy/paste or downloads that standard controls can't see. These aren’t hypothetical problems. Contractors often keep SaaS sessions active on personal devices even after offboarding. Attackers buy stolen session tokens on the dark web to access your business-critical apps undetected. Forward-thinking security teams are closing this blind spot by treating the browser as a first-class endpoint. They're enforcing session monitoring, copy/paste and download restrictions, browser isolation for risky content, and integrated DLP policies that work inside SaaS apps. Because if work starts in the browser, your security strategy needs to start there too. How is your organization approaching this challenge? Let’s discuss.

Did you know that your web browser, the gateway to the digital world, can be a vulnerable entry point for cybercriminals? Browser exploitation attacks exploit vulnerabilities in browsers or their plugins to gain unauthorized access to your system. Sharing some of the common techniques used in browser exploitation: • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious code into a web page to steal sensitive information or execute unauthorized actions. • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Tricking a user into performing an unintended action on a trusted website. • Clickjacking: Overlaying a malicious frame over a legitimate website to trick users into clicking on harmful links. So, how will you protect yourself? • Keep your browser and plugins up-to-date: Regular updates often include security patches to address vulnerabilities. • Use reputable antivirus software: These tools can help detect malicious software and prevent one from visiting malicious websites. • Be cautious of clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources: Verify the sender's identity before clicking on anything. • Enable browser security features: Many browsers offer built-in security features like sandboxing, which isolates web content to prevent malicious code from spreading. By taking these proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to browser exploitation attacks. Remember, your online safety is your responsibility. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and enjoy a safer digital experience. #QuickHeal #Browsersecurity #cybersecurity #webthreats #onlineprivacy

⚠️ About 7 months ago I've posted about Cyberhaven, a cybersecurity company that released a Chrome extension to prevent sensitive data from leaking. Then they were hacked and a malicious version of their extension was uploaded to the Chrome Web Store and almost 400,000 users browsers were infected. Upon investigation, other 16 browser extensions were found with that same malicious code. More recent attacks have been targeting Salesforce data and someday those bad actors will use browser extensions (and VS Code extensions too). We should learn how to guard against that as much as possible. Here are a few recommendations (not exhaustive). Before installing an extension: 👉 don't just trust the Chrome Web Store or the Visual Studio Marketplace 👉 don't just check the permissions on the manifest file 👉 check that it is open-source, that it has a repository 👉 check that the code is not obfuscated (code is legible, commented) 👉 get to that code and try to understand it 👉 or submit it to an AI to help you understand it, ask it to look for malicious, obfuscated code 👉 you can use https://gitingest.com/ with the repo URL to get a text digest of the codebase and paste it to an LLM 👉 there are services such as https://crxcavator.io/ and https://chrome-stats.com/ that check and report extensions If you're manually scanning the code, these might be considered suspicious: ⛔ network calls such as fetch, XMLHttpRequest, chrome.runtime.sendMessage, chrome.storage.sync (*) ⛔ dynamic script loading such as eval, Function, setTimeout with strings ⛔ encoding strings in Base64 or hexadecimal (obfuscation of possible hidden payloads) ⛔ string splitting/joining patterns used to hide URLs ⛔ requests to 3rd party servers unrelated to the extension's stated function ⛔ code that modifies form inputs or listens to keyboard events without a clear purpose ⛔ code that access cookies, tokens, or local storage (*) You can also install and run the extension in a controlled environment (VM or throwaway profile), then: 🎯 use Chrome DevTools → Network tab to monitor outbound requests 🎯 look for POST/GET to unknown domains 🎯 check if it sends page content or authentication tokens 🎯 you can also proxy traffic with mitmproxy or Burp Suite (PortSwigger) 🎯 use chrome://extensions-internals to inspect the extensions you have installed (*) as far as I know, all browser extensions for Salesforce have to retrieve session id/tokens from cookies - unless the extension requires a Connected App set up in advance - and the browser extensions usually call Salesforce's APIs using that session id.

Browser extensions are powerful mini-apps that pose a significant security risk, acting as a backdoor for data theft or malware injection. Relying on popularity is not enough, as popular extensions are prime targets for compromise. This guide from Intune MVP💡Ben Whitmore provides the crucial strategy: deny by default and allow only what you trust leveraging #intune. Key Takeaways: Audit Risk: classify extensions based on API and Host permissions. Enforce Control: Implement a deny-by-default Intune policy using a wildcard (*) to block all unapproved extensions. Whitelisting: Only whitelist vetted and formally approved extensions via their IDs. Cross-Browser Management: Step-by-step Intune configurations are provided for Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gGZMjN3W #MSitnune #EndpointSecurity #MVPbuzz