Building a Digital Defense with Browsers

The FBI’s Portland, Oregon office has published an advisory discussing best practices for web browsers, which are essential for operations in any organization but can serve as openings through which bad actors intrude into systems. Noting that the browsers that are available have different levels of privacy and security, the advisory encourages organizations spend time researching browsers to figure out which one meets their needs and expectations. Once a browser is selected, however, default settings can still leave an organization vulnerable. To help address these potential vulnerabilities, it recommends a series of settings for options like remembering passwords, ad tracking, and requesting certificates. The advisory also emphasizes that it’s critical to keep browsers as up to date as possible, recommending organizations routinely look for and install the latest patches available. It also encourages making sure the browsers themselves are owned by reputable companies, preferably those located in the U.S. Read the advisory at the FBI.