Web browsers Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox offer as much explicit advice and notifications to the users regarding security concerns. On the contrary, Apple's Safari browser chose to continue its quiet policy in deterring and swatting potentially harmful contents without such notifications.
Web browsers are facing the dilemma of sending notifications and warnings without necessarily becoming intrusive. Chrome, Firefox and Safari know that browsers are one of the most easily replaced apps in any computer and users will simply ditch those with annoying notifications. However, nagging users of harmful sites is a must considering the number of new threats that the internet is facing nowadays.
The challenge for browsers is how to educate the public on issues that affect cryptographic standards of web server digital certificates. While Chrome and Firefox appreciate the need for constant notifications, Safari decided to take the matter in their own hands by simply kicking out those questionable sites.
Web browsers are prone to data interception and JavaScript injection, modifying the browser results. If there is a third-party that sticks in the middle between web servers and the user, code or HTML manipulation is very likely. These cases are especially prevalent in public networks, internet cafes or Wi-Fi hotspots.
To at least give users the prompt that they are potentially compromised, Mozilla blog explained that Firefox 51 displays a lock icon with red slash. Such notification indicates a presence of a non-secure page that might collect passwords.
For Chrome 56, all log-in forms from non-secure pages display a prefix that says "Not Secure." Google Security blog said that the current warning is subtly written in gray letters but they plan to change it to more visible warnings written in red.
Among the three top browsers, only Safari doesn't have a transparent roadmap against security threats. Apple simply complimented their efforts by disabling automatic use of Flash and other media-related plug-ins. However, experts revealed that Safari has already integrated some security settings to avoid users from making tweaks themselves.
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