How Personal & Internet Security Work

Chapter 8. The Security Dangers in Browsers

One of the greatest security threats on the Internet attacks a piece of software you most likely use more than any other—your web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.

Increasingly, web browsers have become a primary way that hackers invade people’s PCs. Hackers use browsers as a way to get into people’s systems or install malware such as spyware or Trojans when someone visits a website that contains this type of attack.

Browser-based attacks have become more common over the last several years for a number of reasons. One is that computers have become more secure over time. Today it is standard ...