How to Enable Phishing & Malware Protection

Phishing and malware attacks can do great damage.

All three major browsers on the market, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Apple's Safari, have built-in phishing and malware protection. When turned on, these browsers will warn you when you are about to visit Web pages that may launch an attack against your computer. In addition to these preventative measures, you should install good anti-malware software on your computer that can scan your files and remove malware that has already infected your machine. Avoid visiting pages that look suspicious and do not share personal information on the Internet unless absolutely necessary.

Instructions

1. Turn on your browser's protection features. In Internet Explorer, click on the "Safety Button" (this in on the command bar on top of your browser and looks like a blue shield). Click on "SmartScreen Filter," and then click "Turn On SmartScreen Filter." In Mozilla Firefox, click on "Tools" from the menu, select "Options" and click on "Security" in the new window. Make sure the box next to "Block reported attack sites" is checked. (Apple's Safari always runs the protective filter and requires no manual intervention).

2. Check your browser by visiting test sites. Mozilla has a phishing test site as well as a malware test site, which you can safely visit to ensure that your browser will block malicious sites. Regardless of which browser you are using, you should see a warning sign when you visit these pages. If you don't, restart your computer and repeat Step 1.

3. Install an anti-malware program. While your anti-virus software and browser will protect against most attacks, it is nevertheless a good idea to install a free program that can scan for a large number of malware. MalwareBytes is a convenient program that you can download for free. The free version offers full protection, but the paid version offers more comprehensive after-sale support. Click on the download option of your choice and follow the instructions.

4. Update your browser and anti-malware programs. It is important that you always run the latest versions of browsers and anti-virus / anti-malware programs on your computer. As hackers discover vulnerabilities in these programs, the developers release new versions that offer better protection. Therefore, you are far more vulnerable if you run an older version. Visit the home pages of your browser and anti-malware program often and download updates or the newest versions for maximum protection.

References

• Microsoft: Microsoft Security
• Mozilla: Phishing and Malware Protection
• Apple: Safari Features
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Resources

• Mozilla: Phishing Test Site
• Mozilla: Malware Test Site