As we all know, the World Wide Web is a home for all the information known to humankind. However, it is also the home of numerous threats and cybercriminals that aim to steal your data. Moreover, they can take advantage of your passwords and abuse your system for their benefit.
But that’s barely enough to make us stop browsing and utilize all the knowledge on the web. The best part is that Mozilla Firefox is known for its arsenal of privacy tools. You can play around with settings and have a highly protected browsing experience without extensions! But for those seeking to go the extra mile, we’ve created a list of the top 5 add-ons for the utmost protection.
Secure HTTPS Connection
If you pay attention to the small details, you might’ve noticed that some websites start with an “http://”, while others begin with “https://”. It’s a small detail that might cost your security. There’s a major difference between HTTP and HTTPS connection. An HTTPS connection is secure and encrypts all data exchanged between you and a website. On the contrary, cybercriminals can easily target the HTTP connection to steal your login details while you input them.
There are two ways to use only secure HTTPS connections. Select Mozilla Firefox settings and click on preferences. Then head to privacy & security & select “HTTPS-Only Mode” to avoid entering non-secure websites.
Another way to do it is by downloading an extension that will sort websites and block harmful HTTP websites.
Ad Blocker
There’s a common belief that ad blockers are illegal or mustn’t be used to prevent legal issues. That may be true for some countries, and you should double-check it. However, it is perfectly fine to use an ad blocker in most cases. Quite the opposite – it’s illegal for websites to force you to disable your ad blocker. The extension allows you to browse privately, and you can auto-clean cookies & trackers with it.
Additionally, potentially harmful ads can redirect you to malicious websites. A fake ad can redirect you to a website that automatically downloads a computer virus and infects your system, leading to numerous issues. Malware and ransomware are just a few viruses you can face when clicking on an ad by mistake.
Javascript Disabling Extensions
You can also limit the javascript elements you use. You can block any unwanted elements on a website and optimize your security. It’s good to note that many websites require javascript for animations and their usage. Therefore, you may not have the best experience if you disable javascript.
The issue with Javascript is that it allows cybercriminals to inject malicious code into your system to steal your data. There aren’t many websites that would do such a thing, as they value their customers and readers.
The best part about javascript disabling add-ons is that you can whitelist websites that you use frequently. That’s how you get the best browsing experience on your favorite & trusted websites while blocking the ones with malicious intentions.
Secure Password Manager
We all have that one friend who doesn’t know a single password he’s entered online. That same person can’t create an email without forgetting the password, as he barely uses the web for anything apart from browsing. Fortunately, a secure password manager can cure such issues and more!
You can store all your password in a secure extension that focuses mainly on protecting your data. All you have to do is register and remember your login details – email and password. You can input your passwords and save them, just as you would in the browser.
However, if your system gets infected, your browser-saved passwords will be the first to be targeted and easily stolen. While a secure password manager will withstand a cyberattack, and you’ll keep all your accounts private. It’s similar to a zero-knowledge-encrypted cloud storage, where you get to keep files safe even from the eyes of a provider.
VPN
Installing a VPN in your Mozilla Firefox browser is among your best chances to increase your privacy and security. If you block trackers and cookies and use a VPN, your browsing will be completely protected without anyone following your trail. The downside of anonymity is less personalized ads, but it’s worth it. There are both free and paid Mozilla Firefox VPN extensions on the web.
A VPN is an extension that can allow you to browse regionally-blocked websites too! If you live in country X and move to country Z, you may be blocked from browsing some websites after moving. However, a VPN will allow you to browse all websites available in country X while in country Z. Additionally, you can explore other websites available only in specific countries.
Website Containers & Isolators
The first perk of having a website container is that you can log into numerous accounts on the same website without having to log out. You can create accounts in your Mozilla Firefox extension and use them for specific logins. At the same time, you can put work-related accounts into another account in the extension.
Additionally, you will prevent websites from tracking your browsing data. For example, if you create a website container specifically for Facebook, they won’t be able to track your data outside of it. You’re basically just isolating the website in the container.
Conclusion
Mozilla Firefox is known to be one of the most secure browsers, with lots of settings to keep it that way. If you go the extra mile and download extensions after checking all the settings, you can embrace maximum security when browsing the web. Get ready to say goodbye to cookies, personalized ads, and trackers that follow your browsing habits.
