Browser Security Settings for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer: Cybersecurity 101

 

Tips for Secure Browsing with Google Chrome

These settings can be accessed through Chrome’s “Advanced Settings” menu or by navigating to “chrome://settings/."

• Enable phishing and malware protection: Make sure that Chrome’s phishing and malware protection feature is enabled under the “Privacy” section. This feature will warn you if a site you’re trying to visit may be phishing or contain malware.
• Turn off instant search: The Instant search feature should be turned off for optimal security. While it offers some convenience in searching, having this feature enabled means that anything you type in the address bar is instantly sent to Google.
• Don’t sync: Disconnect your email account from your browser under the “Personal Stuff” tab. Syncing your email account with your Chrome browser means that personal information such as passwords, autofill data, preferences, and more is stored on Google’s servers. If you must use sync, select the “Encrypt all synced data” option and create a unique passphrase for encryption.
• Configure content settings: Click “Content settings” under the “Privacy” section and do the following:
  • Cookies: Select “Keep local data only until I quit my browser” and “Block third-party cookies and site data.” These options ensure that your cookies will be deleted upon quitting Chrome and that advertisers will not be able to track you using third-party cookies.
  • JavaScript: Select “Do not allow any site to run JavaScript.” It is widely recommended that JavaScript be disabled whenever possible to protect users from its security vulnerabilities.
  • Pop-ups: Select “Do not allow any site to show pop-ups.
  • Location: Select “Do not allow any site to track my physical location.”
• Configure passwords and forms settings: Disable Autofill and deselect “Offer to save passwords I enter on the web” under the “Passwords and forms” section. Doing so will prevent Chrome from saving your logins, passwords, and other sensitive information that you enter into forms.

Tips for Secure Browsing with Mozilla Firefox

These settings can be accessed through the “Options” menu.

• Configure privacy settings: Under the “Privacy” tab, complete the following steps. These measures ensure that Firefox is storing only as much of your information as it needs to function normally.
  • Select “Use custom settings for history.”
  • Deselect “Remember my browsing and download history.”
  • Deselect “Remember search and form history.”
  • Deselect “Accept third-party cookies.”
  • Set cookie storage to “Keep until I close Firefox.”
  • Select “Clear history when Firefox closes.”
• Configure security settings: Under the “Security” tab, choose the following settings. These steps prevent Firefox from saving your passwords and keep you from visiting potentially harmful sites.
  • Verify that “Warn me when sites try to install add-ons,” “Block reported attack sites,” and “Block reported web forgeries” are all selected.
  • Deselect “Remember passwords for sites.”
• Disable javaScript: Deselect “Enable JavaScript” under the “Content” tab. JavaScript is notorious for containing security vulnerabilities and it is recommended that users only enable it for trusted sites.
• Enable pop-up blocking: Verify that “Block pop-up windows” is selected under the “Content” tab. This feature should be turned on by default as it protects users from unwarranted advertisements and windows.
• Don’t sync: Avoid using Firefox Sync. By doing so you prevent Firefox from storing your logins, passwords, and other sensitive information.
• Turn on automatic updates: Verify that “Automatically install updates” is selected in the “Update” tab under “Advanced.” Doing so will ensure that your browser receives critical security updates. Verify that “Automatically update Search Engines” is selected as well.
• Use secure protocols: Verify that “Use SSL 3.0” and “Use TLS 1.0” are selected in the “Encryption” tab under “Advanced.”

Tips for Secure Browsing with Microsoft Internet Explorer 10

These settings can be accessed through the “Internet Options” menu.

• Configure security settings: Under the “Security” tab, do the following:
  • Set security zones: IE offers the option to configure different security settings for different “zones,” including the Internet, local intranet, trusted sites, and restricted sites. Set up the zones for Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted sites to your desired security level.
  • Set Internet zone security to “Medium High” or higher. This blocks certain cookie types, enables ActiveX filtering, and implements several other default settings for increased security.
  • Disable javaScript: Click “Custom Level,” locate the “Active Scripting” setting, and select “Disable.” It is recommended that users disable JavaScript because of the high amount of vulnerabilities it contains.
• Automatically clear history: Select “Delete browsing history on exit” under the “General” tab. Clearing your history at the end of each session helps to limit the amount of information IE saves when you browse.
• Configure privacy settings: Under the “Privacy” tab, complete the following steps:
  • Privacy setting: Set the Internet zone privacy to “Medium High” or higher. This blocks certain cookie types to prevent sites from tracking or contacting you without your consent.
  • Location: Select “Never allow websites to request your physical location.”
  • Pop-up Blocker: Double check that Pop-up Blocker is enabled.
• Configure Advanced Security settings: Scroll down to the “Security” section under the “Advanced” tab and do the following:
  • Ensure that all default settings are in place. If you aren’t sure, click “Restore advanced settings” before making any other changes.
  • Select “Do not save encrypted pages to disk.” This will delete files cached from HTTPS pages when the browser is closed.
  • Select “Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.” This prevents IE from storing your personal info (logins, passwords, activity, etc) beyond your browsing session.
  • Turn off autoComplete: The AutoComplete feature should be turned off for forms and usernames/passwords. Keeping AutoComplete turned off ensures that your sensitive information isn’t being stored unnecessarily.
• Tracking protection: IE’s Tracking Protection feature keeps your browsing private from specified third-party websites. This feature can be accessed through IE’s “Safety” menu. In order to use Tracking Protection you will need to provide a Tracking Protection List that names all of the sites you don’t want your information being sent to. You can create a list yourself or download lists online.

How to Fix Missing UEFI Firmware Settings in Windows 10?

The UEFI BIOS is a special software program that connects your computer’s firmware to its operating system (OS). In fact, the BIOS is the first program that runs when you turn on your PC. It checks to see what hardware components your PC has, wakes the components up, and hands them over to the OS.

But while trying to open the UEFI BIOS menu, you might find that you’re unable to access the UEFI Firmware Settings. This could hinder you from fixing several system issues.

Now, if you can't find the UEFI Firmware Settings on your PC, we’ll show you how to bring them back.

Why Are the UEFI Firmware Settings Missing?

Depending on your PC’s manufacturer, you can access the UEFI BIOS settings in various ways. But if you can't locate them, you're probably wondering, "why are the UEFI Firmware Settings not showing?"

Well, if you can’t find UEFI Firmware Settings in the BIOS menu, here are some common reasons for this issue:

• Your PC’s motherboard doesn’t support UEFI.
• The Fast Startup function is preventing you from accessing the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.
• Windows 10 was installed in Legacy Mode.

Let's now explore some solutions for the "Windows 10 no UEFI Firmware Settings" issue.

1. Verify That Your PC Is Equipped With UEFI

Before attempting any potential fix, you need to verify that your PC’s motherboard is equipped to support UEFI. If your PC is an older model, the chances are that the UEFI Firmware Settings are unavailable.

Here’s how to check your PC’s BIOS Mode:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter to open the System Information screen.
3. Select System Summary on the left-hand side pane.
4. Scroll down on the right-hand side pane and locate the BIOS Mode option. The BIOS Mode value should either be "UEFI" or "Legacy." If it's "Legacy," then you don't have UEFI Firmware Settings on your PC.

2. Bypass the Fast Startup Function

The Fast Startup function allows you to boot up your PC quickly. When enabled, the feature could cut off the delay in loading some UEFI BIOS menu options. But then this feature could also prevent you from accessing the UEFI Firmware Settings.

So, bypassing the Fast Startup function could help resolve the "UEFI Firmware Settings missing Windows 10" issue.

Here are the steps for bypassing this function:

1. Open the Windows Start Menu and select the Power icon.
2. Hold the Shift key and then select Shut down from the power options. This will bypass Windows 10 Fast Startup and shut down your PC completely.
3. Finally, power on your computer again and start pressing the dedicated BIOS Setup key.

If this helps, you might consider disabling the Fast Startup feature to make the UEFI Firmware Settings easily accessible. However, bear in mind that this will mean slightly longer boot-up times.

3. Create a "Boot-to-UEFI Firmware Settings" Desktop Shortcut

Alternatively, create a desktop shortcut that forces your PC to boot directly into the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Right-click on a blank space on the desktop, select New, and then select Shortcut.
2. Type shutdown /r /fw in the "Location" box and click the Next button.
3. Pick a suitable name for the shortcut and then click Finish.
4. Right-click on the shortcut, select Properties, and then select the Advanced button.
5. On the next screen, check the Run as administrator box and hit OK.
6. Select Apply > OK to apply these changes.

To use the shortcut, simply double-click on it. This should restart your PC directly into the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.

4. Change the BIOS From Legacy to UEFI by Converting MBR Disk to GPT Disk

Your Windows PC either uses a Master Boot Record (MBR) or a GUID Partition Table (GPT) disk. Even if your motherboard is equipped with UEFI capabilities, UEFI Firmware Settings won’t be accessible if your drive is equipped with an MBR disk. To resolve the issue, you’ll need to switch the BIOS from Legacy to UEFI by converting the MBR disk to a GPT disk.

Considering that you are converting a system disk, it’s best to create a system image to back up your system. In fact, it's highly advisable to consider backing up your system first since there's the potential for data loss during this process.

If you know that your partition is the MBR-type and your system can boot from UEFI, then you’re ready. You can go ahead with converting your drive to GPT format.

Otherwise, here’s how you can check whether your PC is equipped with an MBR or GPT disk:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type diskmgmt.msc and click Enter to open the Disk Management window.
3. Right-click on Disk 0 (or the disk that contains the Windows installation) and select Properties.

Click the Volumes tab in the Properties screen. Next, look for the Partition style option under Disk Information.

 

If the partition style is GUID Partition Table (GPT), then there’s no need to continue with the MBR-to-GPT disk conversion.

5. Clear the CMOS Settings to Restore the Default BIOS Settings

But before clearing the CMOS settings, you have to locate the CMOS battery and jumpers through these steps:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it from the power source.
2. Remove the bottom cover of your PC and look for the CMOS battery and jumpers on the motherboard.
3. To easily locate the CMOS battery, look for a “CLR CMOS” reading on the motherboard. The battery should be somewhere near this reading.
4. Next, locate the jumpers. Usually, you’d find three pins where the CMOS jumpers are located. The jumpers will be located on only two of the three pins.

Now, let's check out how to clear the CMOS settings:

1. If the CMOS jumpers are on the first and second pins, temporarily shift them to the second and third pins. If your motherboard has only two pins, the jumpers will likely be plugged into one pin. In this case, temporarily plug the jumpers on both pins.
2. Next, remove the CMOS battery from its slot. From there, wait for about 15 seconds and then put it back on.
3. Move the CMOS jumpers back to their original pins.
4. Put the computer cover back on, plug in your computer, and then power it on. This should resolve the "no UEFI Firmware Settings" error.

On more advanced motherboards, you’ll find a designated button for resetting the CMOS settings. This will be labeled “CMOS,” “CMOS_SW,” or something similar. You can reset the CMOS settings by pressing this button and holding it down for a few seconds.

How to disable the creation of .DS_Store files for Mac users’ folders?

On Macs, the .DS_Store (Desktop Services Store) files are created by the Finder for each folder and contain the metadata associated with each folder–namely, the size and orientation of icons, background images, and so on. This helps to retain settings configured for a particular folder, for example, setting the Desktop folder to view the icons sorted by name, while configuring the Downloads folder to display files as a list and sorted by date with the most recent displayed first.

.DS_Store files are hidden by the system, as only the Finder uses this metadata to display your folder settings correctly; however, anyone who has enabled the viewing of hidden files or works within server shares where other users also access data will tell you that each folder an Apple user touches will have one of these special .DS_Store files created for it.

 If you or your server admin become frustrated by the seemingly endless creation of these files, there is a quick and easy way to turn off the creation of .DS_Store files–execute the following command in Terminal:


defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores true

After the command is executed, reboot your Mac, and you’ll be good to go–no more .DS_Store files gunking up your system’s folders. If you need to set certain folders a particular way and want to reenable the creation of these files, the fix is just as simple–enter the command below and reboot your system once it’s executed:


defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores false

Note: The change is considered a per-user modification, so if you’re in a corporate environment with multiple Apple users, this command must be performed from each user’s account when logged on with their profile. This may be scripted out and run by your IT department as a logon script or as part of ongoing maintenance routine tasks through Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) or other third-party management suites.

Reset OneDrive

 

To reset the OneDrive desktop sync app in Windows

1. Press the Windows key and R to open the Run dialog box, enter wsreset.exe, then select OK.

2. A blank Command Prompt window will open, and after about ten seconds the window will close. You can close the Microsoft Store window.

3. If OneDrive is still not syncing, press the Windows key and R again.

4. Copy this and paste it into the dialog window, then press OK.
   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
    

   If you see a "Windows cannot find..." message, copy and paste this instead, then press OK.
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
    

   If you see a "Windows cannot find..." message, copy and paste this instead, then press OK.
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

5. Manually restart OneDrive by going to Start , type OneDrive in the search box, and then click on the OneDrive desktop app.

To reset the OneDrive store app in Windows

1. Press Start   and enter apps:onedrive

2. Select App settings

3. Scroll down the list and select Reset.

Change Admin Password of Pulse Secure

 Go to Authentication >  double click Auth Servers  > Administrators > Users

Then select the Admin user

How to Restore Permanently Deleted Emails in Outlook?

How to Restore Permanently Deleted Emails in Outlook?

1.      Select the Deleted Items Folder

2.      Click Folder > click Restore Deleted Items or there is a link below Recover items recently removed from this folder.

 

3.      Select File(s) and then click Ok 

Connecting to SMB Share on MacOS

 Connecting to SMB Share on MacOS

• At the toolbar on the top of the screen, press Go and then “Connect to Server…“.

• In the address bar, enter smb://SERVER-IP/SHARE and click Connect. We can also select the plus at the bottom to save this information if we need to reconnect.

• Enter the login to connect to the SMB share.

• Here we can see our SMB share is connected, and we can create a folder.