Securely Browsing the Internet

More sites than ever now use SSL certificates to ensure a secure connection. This is mostly because Google recently made changes to the way its browser, Google Chrome, works with SSL certificates. Now, whenever you to go a site that has a login function and there is no SSL certificate, the browser will warn you about the lack of security.

As sites add SSL certificates and remove insecure protocols from their servers, clients running older operating systems and browsers such as Windows XP and Internet Explorer may not be able to view them. The best way to remove this possibility is to simply update your system. Some browsers are also better than others regarding their security and the frequency of their updates. Here are three browsers we recommend using if kept up to date:

• Google Chrome: Google Chrome’s major benefit is its outstanding customization features. There are plenty of extensions and add-ons that can greatly improve your browsing experience. Google also leads the pack regarding available security features, including the aforementioned SSL certificate checks that keep people from accidentally browsing on unsecured websites. Finally, Chrome has the added advantage of being able to be used across a wide variety of devices. If you have a Google account, it can easily share data among these devices, including bookmarks and browsing history.
• Mozilla Firefox: Firefox is a simple web browser that focuses on getting the best possible browsing speeds for users. It features open source, publicly available code that allows people to make any changes they want to their browser to enhance their internet experience.
• Microsoft Edge: Gone are the days of Internet Explorer, and good riddance. Edge, which comes standard with Windows 10, is a significant upgrade over IE in terms of speed, security and potential for useful plugins. While the browser is not as widely used as Chrome or Firefox, it has loads of potential moving forward and the resources of Microsoft at its back.

Security should always be a top priority when using the Internet for any purpose. Keeping your operating systems and browsers up to date will ultimately allow for better connectivity to our services. For more information about SSL certificates, browser security and the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular browsers available today, contact our team at IDMI.Net and we will be pleased to answer any questions you have.