Whether on our computers, tablets, or phones, most of us have plugins and extensions that make our web browsers more useful. From video player plugins like Adobe Flash, to ad-blocking extensions and tools that help you spell check and edit as you type, there are countless ways to tailor your browser.

When working with financial and student-related data, these tools can present additional security challenges as well. Add-ons can create points of entry to viruses and malware, potentially exposing sensitive information when we use web-based applications for our work (including Google Apps for Education and AARC).

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to stay safe.

Only install necessary add-ons
If a plugin or extension does not serve a business or academic purpose, it should not be used during your work at Simmons.
To disable or remove add-ons:

• Chrome: Type “about:plugins” or “about:extensions” into the address bar
• Firefox: Go to Tools > Add-ons in the menu
• Safari: Go to Preferences in the menu, and look for plug-ins under the Security tab and other add-ons under the Extensions tab

Take advantage of built-in security options
Most browsers can block—or warn you of—insecure plugins and extensions. You can also enable “click-to-play” support in Chrome. This stops plugins from running automatically and gives you the choice of when to run them and on which websites.

Keep your browser and add-ons updated
Installing updates increases the likelihood that you have the most up-to-date security features available.