Although Mozilla's Firefox is considered one of the safer browser choices, it is still vulnerable to attacks from time to time. Fortunately, there are several great Firefox add-ons that can improve the security of your Web browser. As browser technology evolves, so do the unscrupulous characters looking to exploit new vulnerabilities, so it is a good idea to stay proactive in this area to avoid becoming a victim. Here are our choices for the five best free security add-ons for Firefox.
NoScript
NoScript allows executable content such as JavaScript to run only if it is being hosted on a domain that you trust. This easily configurable extension has been touted as a must have and can protect you from a wide array of security exploits.
CustomizeGoogle
CustomizeGoogle allows you to modify the appearance of your Google search results in several ways, such as adding links to other search engines and suppressing advertisements. Many other features like masking your Google ID and streaming search results are also included.
Finjan SecureBrowsing
Finjan SecureBrowsing searches major web sites as well as search results for malicious content hiding behind links. By accessing and scanning destination URLs in real time, the add-on proactively warns you when a link is potentially dangerous.
Netcraft Toolbar
The Netcraft Toolbar helps protect you from phishing attacks by blocking access to suspicious URLs. Drawing from its large database and relying on community input, Netcraft employs a giant "neighborhood watch scheme" to actively collect URLs involved in phishing. In addition, the toolbar detects XSS attacks and prevents malicious popups from hiding where they originated.
ShowIP
ShowIP displays the IP address of the web page you are currently viewing right in your browser's status bar. In addition, it gives you the ability to query services such as whois and netcraft via IP or Hostname.
