How to Secure Firefox

[bodhi.zazen]

How to Secure Firefox

Intro: What we are going to do is secure Firefox by blocking cookies and Java, then adding only trusted sites via a "White List" (White list = exceptions).

bodhi.zazen: Updated 1/12/1010

Contents:

1. Adblock.
2. Cookies.
3. Customize Google.
4. Java/Flash (NoScript).
5. Phishing.
6. Secure private data.
7. Write an Apparmor Profile.
8. Using Firefox, ie how to generate white lists.

Appendix:

• Surf Anonymously ~ Privoxy/TOR
• Other Privacy issues

Adblock

We have three options here, Hosts file, Firefox extensions, or proxy servers.

1. Hosts file. I prefer a hosts file as it protects more then just Firefox.
   
   Here is how I do a hosts file : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=241460#2
   
   Direct link to hosts file
2. Firefox extension : Adblock Plus
3. Proxy servers. Proxy servers may be used to increase privacy as well (see TOR) and come in several flavors, caching and non-caching. In general, caching is not needed as Firefox uses it's own cache. Configuration of each and every proxy server and configuring a firewall so that a proxy as "transparent" is beyond this post (transparent means you have configured your network so that users do not have to manually configure Firefox and in general involve a hardware firewall + a squid server).
   
   As an example See here
   
   IMHO, for single user desktops, I advise Adblock Plus.
   IMHO, in a multi user environment or on a LAN, I advise a proxy server.
   
   1. Privoxy is a very popular option.

      sudo apt-get install privoxy

      Privoxy is fast, light, and has adblocking "built in". See "bfilter" below for how to configure Firefox to use a proxy.
   2. Bfilter. As of Ubuntu 9.10 bfilter is no longer supported in the ubuntu repositories. You may still install bfilter using Autopackage. Autopackage installs the bfilter-gui.
      
      Bfilter runs on windows as well (portable, nice when you are using a guest computer).
      
      Bfilter is easy to install and configure.

      sudo apt-get install bfilter

      To configure, open Firefox preferences -> Advanced tab -> Network tab -> now click the "settings" box. Use 127.0.0.1 port 8080 as a proxy (see screen shot)
      
      
   3. Squid. Squid can be used for adblocking and has several advanced features. See also DansGuardian.
   
   

If you need a few pointers on Dansguardian or configuring an invisible proxy, see also :

How to transparent proxy

Web content filtering made easy


Cookies

Go to your Firefox menu -> Preferences -> Privacy Tab

UNSELECT "Accept cookies from sites"

All cookies are now blocked.

Flash manages cookies directly. To manage flash cookies : http://www.macromedia.com/support/do...manager02.html

~ Thanks benny bronx


Javascript/Flash

Javascript/Flash are a cross platform programing languages commonly used on the web. They add functionality, but also allow browser hijacks.

Install NoScript

To configure, right click on the NoScript icon (lower right) and select options.


Optimize Google

That's right, google is feeding you adds

Install this extension.

Optimize Google

Then :

Tools -> Optimize Google Options

Go through each category on the Left and tic off "Remove Adds" (and anything else you might like).

Another great extension (IMO) is googleefree . This is not really an extension, it is a google search bar that excludes Expert Exchange (that annoying service you have to join to see solutions).


Phishing

Phishing is, in a nut shell, spoofing a web site or an attempt to fool users to divulge personal information.

Wikipedia Phishing

There are several Firefox extensions to consider, Web of Trust is one example.

Web of Trust


Secure Private Data

1. Go to your Firefox menu -> Preferences -> Security Tab
   
   Set a "Master Password". This will protect others from displaying your passwords. If you have a sensitive password like to the Ubuntu Forums or your Bank, BEST NOT TO STORE IT AT ALL.
   
   Hey, while you are there, check out the password strength meter.
2. Install SafeHistory.
   
   Safe History functionality is built into Firefox 3.5.x and is configured under Options -> Privacy tab -> use custom settings (select this option from the pull down menu).
   
   You may also configure Firefox , in about:config, to disable the use of an offline cache.
   
   browser.cache.offline.capacity 0
   browser.cache.offline.enable false
3. Install SafeCache to be safer against CSRF attacks.
4. As of Firefox 3.5 there is an option for Private browsing

~ Thanks FaBi3ttO


How to Whitelist

OK, now you will likely find Firefox somewhat restrictive. The goal here is to allow "normal" functioning. In order to log into forums or your banking sites we need to allow Cookies and Java. We will do this ONLY for specific sites we trust via white lists.

1. Cookies - Firefox options -> Privacy tab
   
   Copy the Ubuntu url from your browser : http://ubuntuforums.org/
   
   Go to "Cookies" -> click the "Exceptions" button -> paste ubuntu url -> click "Allow for session"
   
   For secure sites like Banking you will need to allow multiple url (https), usually one from the home page, then one from the log in page, and sometimes from the next page as well. So if you are having problems, keep adding url to the white list.
2. Java - Right click on the NoScript icon -> Allow Ubuntu.com

Repeat these steps until you have added your sites and have the functionality you need.


Use Apparmor Profile

As of Ubuntu 9.10 there is now a profile for Firefox. It is disabled by default, to enable it use the command :

sudo aa-enforce /etc/apparmor.d/usr.bin.firefox-3.5

The default profile may be a bit too permissive in allowing access to home directories so I advise you review it.

Firefox profiles for older versions of Ubuntu can be found here

Apparmor is beyond this thread, but see these two threads :

[all variants] Introduction to AppArmor - Ubuntu Forums

Share your AppArmor Profiles


How to Surf Anonymously ~ Privoxy/TOR

Privoxy / TOR can significantly increase your privacy, but at a cost of reduced speed. Please note however, that these services DO NOT offer complete anonymity.

Ubuntu wiki TOR

http://wiki.noreply.org/noreply/TheO...er/TorOnDebian

If you use TOR and have the capacity, consider contributing a TOR server (a few more servers would speed things up for everyone).

http://en.linuxreviews.org/HOWTO_setup_a_Tor-server

Tor is not the only option, there are other privacy proxies available to a google search.

Privacy

Privacy is a separate but related issue and I added a page on my blog to get you stared:

Internet Privacy



Peace be with you,

bodhi.zazen

[nikoPSK]

very nice. I like it. There a bunch of speed tweaks as well I'm planning on writing about.

[limac]

great post bodhi, sure is going to be helpful around here! Especially the "Secure Private data" part. really helpful

regards,
limac

[FaBi3ttO]

Really good post.
I also use SafeCache
to be safer against CSRF attacks.

[bodhi.zazen]

Really good post.
I also use SafeCache
to be safer against CSRF attacks.

Thanks I will add that link to the list.

[nowshining]

all safe cache does is disable cache - it makes it where each time u download something u'll have to re-download it..

as for others

u can also

about:config
find:

A: network.http.sendRefererHeader > set this to 0 to disable referell - note some sites may require it - but few sites do - if u get probs, just reset it, and keep the tab open, do what u need and re-set it to 0. What this does is keep sites from knowing what sites u last visited.

B: network.http.sendSecureXSiteReferrer > set to false

C: network.jar.open-unsafe-types > make sure this is set to false

D: Download Contrle de scripts from the add-on site, this allows easier acces to only allow certain pop-ups, clicks, etc.. in other words certain pop-up types, go into prefs of the program and set the following:

Under allow scripts to - uncheck all,

go to the popups tab

Under allowed events only the following should be: click. dblclick, submit

Then press ok.

E: in about:config find browser.preferences.advanced.selectedTabIndex > set this to 2

Determines which tab in the Advanced section of the preferences is visible.
0 (default): General
1: Update
2: Security

[bodhi.zazen]

Thanks nowshining , keep the tips coming

[SOULRiDER]

I especially liked the Tor part, i had been wondering how to use Tor for a while but never really bothered to look for info on how to do it

[nikoPSK]

I especially liked the Tor part, i had been wondering how to use Tor for a while but never really bothered to look for info on how to do it

using tor seems a bit over the edge, but I guess that's how bad some things are... :[

[Pyre_Vulpimorph]

Concerning master passwords, how do you rate the FireFox Add-On, Password Maker, the one with the LotR-esque catchphrase "one password to rule them all"?

It claims to be uncrackable, but I'm sceptical about such claims.