Home > Articles > Security > Network Security

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Setting Web Features Options

The final set of security options appears on the Web Features Options screen, shown in Figure 2-22. To display the Web Features options, go to Tools | Options | Web Features.

Figure 2-22 The Options screen showing the Web Features options.

The options described in the following sections can give you more control over your web security.

Block Popup Windows

This option, which blocks popups, is described in Chapter 3.

Allow Websites to Install Software

When you install Firefox, websites can install extensions and themes on your computer. Adding extensions and themes is a pretty good thing, because you can augment Firefox’s capabilities and change the way it looks. (Extensions and themes are discussed in Chapter 7.) However, the installation process isn’t completely uncontrolled. Firefox blocks any website from installing software until you’ve added the website to a whitelist of allowed sites. A small bar appears at the top of the screen telling you that Firefox has blocked the website from installing software on your computer. You can click Edit Options to display the Allowed Sites screen, shown in Figure 2-23, to add the website.

Figure 2-23 The Allowed Sites screen.

When a website has been added to the list, click the link again to install the software. Firefox displays a small confirmation screen to ask if you want to download this specific piece of software (an example appears in Figure 2-24).

Figure 2-24 The Software Installation screen.

The Allowed Sites screen lets you edit the list of websites that are allowed to install extensions and themes on your computer. To manually add a website to the list, click Allowed Sites on the Web Features Options screen, enter the website address in the Allowed Sites screen’s address field, and click Allow. (Any websites that you’ve previously allowed already appear on the list.) You can remove previously allowed websites from the list by highlighting the site(s) in question and clicking Remove Site, or click Remove All to block every website from installing software on your computer. When you are satisfied with your entries, click OK.

Themes are handled a little differently: when you try to install a theme and you have this option checked, Firefox does not require you to add the website name to the whitelist. You’re just asked to confirm the download in a simple message like the one shown in Figure 2-25.

Figure 2-25 Confirming a theme download.

By default, downloads are allowed, but unchecking Allow websites to install software prevents any downloads from occurring unless you first re-enable this option.

Load Images

The Load Images option lets you selectively display or block banner ads and other images and is described in Chapter 3.

Enable Java

Java is a programming language developed for web programming by James Gosling of Sun Micrososystems. Java is very portable: the same Java program can run on a wide variety of computers, making it unnecessary to create multiple versions for differing platforms. Java programs that are downloaded and run in web browsers are typically known as applets. Lots of websites use Java applets to add custom features, such as dropdown menus, web buttons, image scrolling, and other features, such as animation and slide shows. Many online, web-based games are written in Java. There are lots of complex and more esoteric Java applets as well; for example, many online accounting systems and other web-based systems make extensive use of Java for reporting and printing information.

By default, Firefox allows Java applets to run, but you can prevent this by unchecking Enable Java.

Enable JavaScript

JavaScript is a simple, effective scripting language created by Brendan Eich while he was at Netscape. It isn’t the same as Java. JavaScript and Java have some things in common (that would only be of interest to a programmer—trust me), but the biggest difference is that JavaScript is used for small things like checking and formatting input on web forms. JavaScript code is integrated in the web page’s HTML code, so a lot of functions can be done directly on your computer within the browser without having to go back to the server for computing power. (In contrast, Java applets are compiled programs that are separate from web pages, although they can be called from a web page and downloaded to your computer.)

There probably isn’t any good reason to stop JavaScript from running on your browser: it’s clean, it’s pretty secure as things go, and a lot of websites depend on JavaScript. On the off chance you know why you want to disable JavaScript on your computer, uncheck Enable JavaScript. However, you may want to disable only certain features of JavaScript, which you can do by clicking Advanced to display the Advanced JavaScript Options screen (shown in Figure 2-26).

Figure 2-26 The Advanced JavaScript Options screen.

Through this screen, you can enable and disable any of the following:

  • Move or resize existing windows: Enables or disables moving and resizing windows with scripts.

  • Raise or lower windows: Enables or disables raising and lowering windows with scripts.

  • Disable or replace context menus: Enables or disables web pages from changing or disabling the Firefox context menu.

  • Hide the status bar: Enables or disables forcing the display of the status bar in popup windows.

  • Change status bar text: Enables or disables status bar text scrolling and hiding web addresses when you hold the mouse over them.

  • Change images: Enables or disables changing images. These are often called rollover or mouseover images; they change when you move the mouse over them. Use this carefully, because disabling this feature can make it difficult to navigate some menus.

Even with all these security and privacy options, Firefox isn’t absolutely, totally secure. No web application is 100% risk-free. Nevertheless, Firefox is pretty darned good: it excludes the riskiest technologies found in other browsers, and, while it’s not impossible for someone to come up with a way to attack Firefox’s security, the amount of effort to do so is much greater because of Firefox’s better architecture.

I know what computers are supposed to be: they’re supposed to be like the computer on Star Trek. I should be able to talk to it in plain English and have it sift through my idioms and syntax and implied questions and still come up with exactly what I really want to know. That computer operates like an appliance: efficiently, accurately, with only very rare hiccups in its otherwise seamless performance. Unfortunately, that’s not the computer I have on my desk. (I don’t think they’re going to sell the Star Trek make and model for quite a while, darn it!) As a result, I have to know a lot more about how it works, how it connects to the Internet, and what I need to do to protect it from bad people doing bad things. All of this is work that doesn’t add anything to the task at hand. It’s all overhead. Ugh.

With that in mind, I’m glad that using Firefox means that I don’t have to worry about half as many security problems as I used to. As you’ve seen, it’s relatively simple to set up a number of basic security and privacy options that you usually don’t have to worry about again. The next chapter gives you the other part of this picture by telling you how to deal with two of the biggest annoyances on the web these days: popups and banners. These aren’t security risks of the same caliber as spyware, but they’re just as pestiferous. You’ll be glad to know that Firefox offers several direct ways of dealing with these problems, too.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020