Control JavaScript in Firefox
As discussed in the previous entry, one thing that I think makes Firefox safer is that security holes are patched much faster than they are for Internet Explorer. Another factor that adds to safety in Firefox is that it is easily configured with extensions to provide additional safeguards. Many extensions exist and are easy to install. One extension worth considering controls JavaScript.
One of the most common ways that malware can get onto your computer is through some JavaScript function. Many annoying ads also use JavaScript. It is safer and often faster to surf without JavaScript and all major browsers give you a way to disable JavaScript. However, completely disabling JavaScript is not the answer. Many necessary and useful functions also use JavaScript. Many legitimate sites will be partially or wholly unusable without JavaScript. The solution is to be able to easily turn JavaScript on and off so that it is off for general surfing but can be enabled for viewing sites that use JavaScript for valid reasons. There is a free extension for Firefox that does just that and I have been using it for a while now. I really like it; the only real problem that I have encountered is that I sometimes forget that I have disabled JavaScript and wonder why I can’t get sites to work. The extension is called NoScript and is available here.
The program allows you to either permanently or temporarily enable JavaScript for a particular site. That way all your favorite sites can have JavaScript enabled while the Internet as a whole remains without JavaScript. As you surf you may find some site that looks peculiar or has broken functions. If you believe the site is a legitimate one, you can turn on JavaScript. Firefox does not support ActiveX scripting, so there may be some sites that do not work in Firefox with or without JavaScript.