Plug-Ins

• Plug-ins are software components that increase an application's performance. These are typically found in conjunction with applications such as Acrobat, QuickTime, Adobe Flash and Java. While plug-ins can expand a Web browser's functions, they can also leave it vulnerable to attacks if they are not regularly updated with the proper virus protection.
  
  

Mobility

• Gone are the days when the Internet could be accessed only from a home computer. Now you can connect on the go via smartphone or tablet. But increasing mobility can lead to increasing vulnerability, according to Dave Jevans, chairman of the Anti-Phishing Working Group in 2011. Jevans says that mobile browsers "are missing many of the security features found on desktop browsers," providing easy targets for cyber criminals.
  
  

Out-of-Date Browsers

• Steve Santorelli, a leading expert with Internet security research firm Team Cymru stresses that one of the greatest browser vulnerabilities is an out-of-date Web browser. In the fast-paced world of technology, where viruses and malware are continually evolving, Web browsing software can become obsolete in less than five years. According to Santorelli, "if your browser is three years old, you are at high risk."
  
  

Best Defenses

• Fortunately, there are ways to reduce a Web browser's vulnerabilities, most of which center on keeping the browser updated. Jevans makes the case for the fortification of modern browsers, stating, "there have been a lot of improvements in browser security; they are quite good." Browsers and plug-ins can both be updated with the latest security technology if users are patient and thorough enough to install the necessary upgrades.