Malwarebytes Browser Guard

[Chris]

I receive the Malwarebytes* newsletter which directed me to, "Malwarebytes browser guard".  It's a free extension that works with Chrome and some other browsers that blocks specific tracking cookies that could be a security risk. So, I decided to try it.

I found their explanation of what "tracking cookies" actually do rather scary. 

Malwarebytes Browser Guard: (Tiny url link)
tinyurl.com/34ufhfts

www.malwarebytes.com/blog/personal/2023/08/25-most-popular-websites-vs-malwarebytes-browser-guard?utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20230821_augustweeklynewsletter_v3_169227618674&utm_content=malwarebytes_browser_guard

Also:
www.malwarebytes.com/browserguard

Kind regards
Chris

* I don't actually use Malwarebytes antivirus, I use the free Microsoft Bit Defender that comes with Windows 10.

[mart44]

I had a few extensions installed designed to block tracking but even with all of them active, some tracking still took place. Advertisers reckon they have the the best and most thorough blockers and they do indeed work to a great degree. The trouble is that even if only one tracker manages to bypass protections, they may all talk to each other and then tracking still takes place. The main aim of trackers is to diagnose travels around the Internet to see what the interests are and target ads. They don't know a person using the Internet as a name and home address but only as an IP address.

My approach has been to not worry about cookies and tracking but to block ads that may be targeted at my IP address. I just don't trust them. For the reason why, look up the search term 'malvertising'. In fact , I have an extension installed called 'I don't care about cookies' so that I'm not annoyed by cookie permission requests when going around the Internet. After some years of this, I haven't noticed anything untoward happening in any way. I know this approach may be disagreed with but we make our choices.

[Chris]

Thank you for sharing your comments and experiences Martin. I will check out the, don't care about cookies' extension. It sounds interesting.

I use CCleaner to clean up all the hundreds or thousands of cookies I have accumulated each day, and I wonder where they all came from!

Sadly, the internet has become a security minefield with malware, phishing and other scams. We all have to be very careful.

Kind regards
Chris

[mart44]

I think phishing is one of the bigger threats these days. Some of the fake sites are very convincing. It can be a mistake to open a website from an e-mail link. I once did that to go to our energy supplier's website. It looked so genuine but it was in fact a phishing site. Nearly got caught but it makes a person wiser for the future. If an e-mail arrives from what appears to be a legitimate business, look at the e-mail header to see if it really does originate from them. If unsure it's best to go to that site via a search engine link or a previously made bookmark.

There is a Firefox extension called 'Lightbeam' ('Thunderbeam' for Chrome-based browsers) that shows tracking. It makes an interesting picture..



The circles are the sites being visited. The triangles are the tracking sites hooking into the site being visited. They log visits. As can be seen, some interlink with others. This from only a few hours browsing around the Internet. Days would produce an even prettier pattern.

Even so, I think the Internet is a great place and I'm not put off by the pitfalls. I might be profiled to the hilt by trackers and advertisers by now but as said, nothing untoward has happened as yet.

I'm using McAfee Total Protection as for malware protection. It came with the computer and I decided to give it a try. It seems OK. It has a browser extension that warns of what it thinks are bad sites. With that in place and an ad-blocker, I just use the Internet.

[Chris]

Thanks for this further information. Wow, that diagram does look scary! We are being watched from so many sites.

Yes, I agree, there are benefits to using the net, but as you say great caution is needed.

Kind regards
Chris

[Howard]

I am very privacy orientated too. I don't like targeted ads but more importantly I don't want my news and information tainted by what the bots think I like - I want to see a variety of opinions and articles so that I can make up my own mind. The echo chambers that are created by the bots are inherently dangerous, particularly to those with closed minds to begin with.

While it's hard to get a perfect solution I use Brave browser (lots of security and privacy controls including prevention of third party cookies and fingerprinting, auto deletion of cookies at the end of each session etc) and StartPage search engine, which hides my IP when running searches. I'm sure there are loopholes and weaknesses and StartPage has gone downhill a little since they swapped from Google to Bing to parse results but it's still pretty good.

Interestingly, the Brave privacy report says it's blocked 3 trackers on this forum! No doubt placed by ProBoards.

[mart44]

I have Brave installed as an alternative browser. This is using DucKDuckGo for a search engine. An OK search engine but I wish they had chosen a different name I use Startpage with Edge. Microsoft tries to reset that to Bing every now and then unless the option to 'Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up device' is turned off in Settings.

Tend to use both browsers more or less equally but with a slight leaning towards MS Edge.

Edit: I hope leaning towards Edge doesn't mean I'll fall over it in the end.