These days, we need every single bit of security we tin find. And platform doesn't matter. That's right, once upon a time I'd have said, "If you're looking to go along your calculating experience 100% condom, you should be using Linux!" However, now that and so many depend upon a web browser to get their work done, the idea of a secure platform goes only as far as the browser one uses. As far as default browser security, y'all'd be hard-pressed to find one better than the latest iterations of Firefox. But that doesn't mean the browser is perfectly gratis from danger. The old aphorism "Where in that location'southward a volition, in that location'south a manner" most certainly comes into play.

2 issues every web browser user must consider are phishing and malware. And although you might utilise a platform that, by blueprint, requires the addition of antivirus and anti-malware, it would behoove you lot to seek a scrap of additional help. If you employ a platform that doesn't require the utilise of antivirus and anti-malware, you should remember that phishing attacks tin nab you, regardless of platform, if you're non careful.

That's where the Avast Online Security extension for Firefox tin assist. With this handy addition, you'll get a real-time indication of sites' trustworthiness, based on crowdsourced spider web of trust ratings and known blacklists.

I'm going to show you how to use the Avast extension in Firefox. I'll be demonstrating on Uncomplicated OS with Firefox 61.ob14. However, the platform doesn't matter, as the installation and usage is the same, regardless of Os.

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Installation

Installing the Avast extension is uncomplicated. Only follow these steps:

  1. Open up Firefox.
  2. Click on the menu button in the upper-right corner.
  3. Click Add-ons.
  4. Click Go Add-ons.
  5. Whorl to the lesser and click Run into More than Add-ons.
  6. Search for Avast.
  7. Click on the Avast Online Security entry.
  8. Click Add To Firefox.
  9. When prompted, click Add.
  10. When prompted, click OK.

Once installed, you'll see a new icon in the Firefox main toolbar (Effigy A).

Effigy A

Usage

As you go to a website, the Avast extension will automatically check the site's web of trust (against known lists and crowdsourced feedback). If all is well, the icon will low-cal up green. You can click on the icon to expand the site's listing (Effigy B).

Figure B

One matter to take into consideration is that the Avast extension doesn't just give the site a metaphorical thumbs up or down. It too checks ad tracking, web analytics, and more. Yous tin (and should) also rate the site as either positive or negative (which helps in the crowdsourcing for a site'southward web of trust).

If it turns out the site is using ad tracking, y'all tin can click on the Block All button (to block all sites) or the Block push button (to block individual sites) to prevent this behavior.

Until the Avast extension has had enough crowdsourced reports for a particular site, the toolbar icon will remain grayness. If it gets plenty positive feedback, it'll be greenish, whereas enough negative feedback will turn the icon ruby (indicating that it may not exist safety). Don't worry: Avast doesn't depend solely on crowdsourcing for its data. The extension does cake known sites and attacks, so if you lot attempt to get to a known phishing or malware site, a alert will pop upwards informing you that the site has been marked (Figure C).

Effigy C

The call is yours

This little extension by Avast will go a long fashion toward protecting your Firefox spider web browsing experience. Notwithstanding, information technology's up to you whether you install it and/or apply it. I practice recommend using this add together-on for Firefox. You'll get instant feedback if a site is trustworthy, likewise as the ability to block advert trackers and web analytic bots. That alone is worth the gratis price of admission.

Also read…

  • Mozilla's new Firefox service tin can tell users if they're a victim of a data breach (TechRepublic)
  • How to disable requests for website push notifications in Firefox Breakthrough (TechRepublic)
  • How to use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers extension (TechRepublic)
  • How to protect yourself on Facebook using a unproblematic Firefox extension (TechRepublic)
  • Mozilla tests including Have I Been Pwned in Firefox (ZDNet)

Your thoughts

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