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   Take Control of Security for Mac Users, Chapter 8: Surf the Web Safely

   Joe Kissell

   This article is a pre-release chapter in the upcoming 'Take Control of
   Security for Mac users,' by Joe Kissell, scheduled for public release
   later in 2015. Apart from [1]Chapter 1: Introducing Mac Security, and
   [2]Chapter 2: Learn Security Basics, these chapters are available only
   to [3]TidBITS members; see [4]'Take Control of Security for Mac Users'
   Streaming in TidBITS for details.
     __________________________________________________________________

Chapter 8: Surf the Web Safely

   The Web is perhaps your Mac's most obvious gateway to the outside
   world, and as a result, it's one of the best places to find people and
   software that present threats to your security. Even though you've
   secured your Wi-Fi connection, selected good security settings, and
   chosen strong passwords, a brief visit to a malicious Web site can
   cause all sorts of harm to your Mac.

   In this chapter, I review several keys to safer Web browsing, including
   using SSL when possible, making sure your browser uses appropriate
   settings, and using a combination of common sense and technology to
   avoid phishing attempts and Web-borne malware. Everything here is
   applicable to users at all risk levels, although those at higher levels
   may want to choose more restrictive options, where they exist.

   I focus mostly on Safari and Google Chrome, the two most popular Mac
   Web browsers, but the advice in this chapter applies to nearly every
   browser, and you can likely find settings and extensions comparable to
   the ones I discuss here even if you use Firefox, iCab, Opera, or
   another browser.

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References

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