There are two types of plug-ins that can compromise your Mac: vulnerable plug-ins and malicious plug-ins. While a nice additional security measure, it has a very narrow focus when it comes to plug-ins and is not updated to keep up with all threats. Unless you have the version Apple recommends or newer, the plug-ins do not work on your system. Though it mostly focuses on Flash Player, in the past it has been used to set a minimum required version for Java and Silverlight as well. MacOS disables known vulnerable versions of plug-ins for you as well, through its XProtect mechanism. This gives you two chances to really consider the choice you’re making, and unless it’s content you really need from a site you trust, will likely make you think twice before granting the site access to that plug-in. A website that requires one of your plug-ins to work will display a message similar to this one:Īnd when you click that button, the browser will show an additional warning and asks you to confirm. This way you can choose to let one website use a plug-in while every other website cannot access it. Click on the button with a cog wheel in it and make sure “Update Add-ons Automatically” is checked.Įvery major browser has implemented a system where plug-ins are activated only if you tell it to activate. At the bottom of that window, you will see a checkbox that will enable the automatic updating of extensions make sure it’s checked.įrom the Tools menu, select Add-ons. Open the Preferences, and then click the Extensions tab. Here are steps to keep your plug-ins up-to-date in Safari and Firefox: Safari Your browser should be doing this for you, but you can verify your browser is set up for auto-updating plug-ins. That said, each plug-in that you install increases the potential attack surface, so don’t install a plug-in unless you really need it. Plug-ins to avoidįlash Player, Java, Silverlight and Acrobat are most often exploited and should be avoided if you can. Ads pay the bills for a lot of websites, so I’m happy to contribute to sites I frequent often. Note: While blocking ads makes my browsing experience much better overall, I do unblock websites that show a normal amount of ads that are relevant to the site’s content. (RELATED: How to Tell if Adobe Flash Player Update is Valid) If you do see a pop-up that suggests a plug-in you might actually want to install, close the pop-up window and get that plug-in from a trusted source. For example, if you want the Adblock plug-in for Safari, you should get it from the official Adblock website or from the Safari Extensions web page hosted by Apple.ĭo not get plug-ins from a web page or a pop-up that prompts you to install it! These potentially harmful prompts are most often seen in the form of fake Flash Player updates. If you need to use a plug-in, it’s best to only get it from a trusted source. So what are some things you should look out for when using plugins? And how can you tell if they’re legit or malicious plugins? It’s not always easy to tell, but there are tried and true methods to help you navigate the Web more safely. In this article, we will cover some best practices for the use of plug-ins and how you can stay safe when using them. Plug-ins (also called extensions or add-ons) are not always useful enhancements though, and may even be installed without your knowledge - some of which may even be malicious and can compromise your Mac. My Safari has three and my Firefox has seven they’re the first thing I install on a new system, and I really dislike browsing the Web without them. I cannot remember a time in which my browsers did not have a few plug-ins installed. Recommended + Security & Privacy How Malicious Plugins Can Compromise Your Mac
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