Browser Vulnerabilities + Controls

Browsers are client-side applications for accessing websites and the Internet. Various browsers exist on the market, and each browser is developed differently. As such, one browser might suffer from a vulnerability to a greater extent than another browser. In general, typical vulnerabilities that a browser is prone to are:

1. Inappropriate Configuration: Allowing pop-ups, cookies, or scripts on all websites without the user's consent/awareness might lead to the download of malware, which can impact data confidentiality, crash of applications, crash of the computer, or leakage of data being transmitted through the browser.
2. Untrusted Add-ons: Adding an extension from an unreliable source could lead to malware infection (if the creator of the extension is a hacker, or the extension has vulnerabilities). One should always disable unwanted extensions.
3. Malware or Executables Run on the Web Browser: Certain malicious apps might run on the browser, leading to theft of the data or system infection.
4. Lack of Patching and Security Updates: Security patches must be installed as soon as possible to prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities that were recently detected in a certain browser.