Browsers, Security, Cache and Cookies

Conrad11

Conrad11

Conrad11

Soldato
Joined
12 Jun 2005
Posts
5,361
Right, this even sounds strange and tinfoil-hat-esque to me so I don't know what it would sound like to other people but...

...I have always had a strange conception that I should delete all browser history, cache and cookies (for each browser) before and after doing anything I want done securely on the internet (buying things, paypal, banking) and I never have passwords stored in my browsers except for things I don't really care about like forums etc... (I just ran CCleaner basically)

I've always thought that if you went to a dodgy site it would steal my passwords (even if I told Firefox not to remember the passwords for site like paypal) and stuff from your cookies even if I went to a dodgy site on Opera and my passwords were stored in Firefox through some weird script download and execution or something like that. (Yeah I know it sounds really strange). (I use a separate browser [opera in this case] for dodgy stuff)

I'm not on MAC and don't have something like CCleaner to be able to do this easily so I have to do it it manually and was wondering whether someone could clear up my obvious misconceptions so I can get rid of the tin-foil-hat. Now I have never had any problems so I guess I was doing something right, but I question whether it is all in vain or not.

So what are your policies for passwords and safety with internet shopping and credit/debit card number etc? And what do you do in the eventuality that you have to download a file from a questionable website?

Thanks.

EDIT: lol, I have just remembered where all this tin-foil-hat madness originated for those that are interested: http://php.robm.me.uk/#toc-XSS
 
I use Opera for all my browsing, but I have 3rd party cookies acceptance switched off. I have been known to visit the odd dodgy site and download some questionable stuff as well as buy things legitimately by card and paypal. I don't have rafts of security apps installed either.

Never had any issues, ever...
 
Conrad11 said:
So what are your policies for passwords and safety with internet shopping and credit/debit card number etc? And what do you do in the eventuality that you have to download a file from a questionable website?
Click to expand...

In order of convenience :

1. Virtual machine. Host for financial stuff, guest for everything else.

2. One PC for financial stuff, laptop or another PC for everything else.

3. Dual boot. One partition for financial stuff, another partition for everything else. Preferably different OS and / or encrypted, so that they can't infect each other. e.g. Windows can't access Linux partitions.

4. Linux LiveCD for financial stuff. Upside, it's read only so no infection can 'stick'. Downside, it's read only so settings and updates are lost when you reboot.
 
on Mac you use mainmenu for the job you want deletes cookies cache browser rubbish dns info os cache & loads more & its FREE!
 
Yes switch off 3rd party cookie - Ive ticked to block 3rd party cookie in my Fx 3 - dont leave it on cos it too mess and cookie with low/medium risk would make too much disc space.
 
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