Staying Up to Date: Plugins and Extensions
Overview
Third-party plugins and extensions are programs or add-ons that
are developed by someone other than the browser or computer manufacturer, but
are designed to work within the selected software.
These add-ons have nearly become a necessity when browsing the
web and are heavily used in sites such as Blackboard Learn and Lynda training
videos. However, it is important to
note that these plugins must be kept up to date just like any other software on
your machine. Recently, major
vulnerabilities were found in both Java and Flash. Browser extensions and plugins such as these
are constantly being updated to patch these vulnerabilities. Allowing these
browser add-ons to remain out of date can open up a device to attacks through
known exploitations. Moreover, some plugins may need to be disabled between
updates to protect from newly discovered vulnerabilities before they have been
fixed. As such it is important to stay
up to date and remained informed about both current and upcoming patches.
Java and Adobe Flash Player can both be downloaded straight
from their websites to ensure that they are up to date with the most recent
versions. To make sure your browser has the current releases of these applications,
visit the download pages for Java and Flash
Player.
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Chrome
Plugins
To access plugins in Chrome, go to chrome://plugins/. This will bring up a
list of all the plugins currently within in the browser and information about
them when the “Details” option in the right corner is selected. From here the plugins can be enabled or
disabled. If a plugin is in need of an update, the update will be shown to the
right of it. Also, Chrome has plugin settings that can be accessed from chrome://settings/ under “Advanced
Settings” > “Privacy” > “Content Settings”.
Extensions
Extensions in Chrome are found at chrome://extensions/. They are also listed
out and have the ability to be enabled, disabled, or deleted. These options are located to the right of the
extension. To update the extension, enter developer mode by selecting the check
box in the upper right corner and then click “Update Extensions Now” to update.
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Firefox
Plugins
Firefox plugins can be found under the “Tools”
tab and then by selecting “Add-ons”. The Firefox Add-ons Manager will then
open. Click on the “Plugins” section on the left side topic menu to bring up
the active plugins. When a plugin needs to be updated, the update appears as a
warning message above the plugin or go to Mozilla
Plugin Check to view the plugin status located
to the right of the plugin. If the plugin requires an update, it will be state
here with the option to update. There is also a button to enable or disable the
plugin (depending on the current setting) to the far right of each plugin.
Extensions
These are also found in the Firefox Add-on Manager
as the second topic down in the left topic menu. They have similar options to
the plugins. Also, if a plugin is no
longer compatible with Firefox, due to update status, generic compatibility issues,
or level danger, The browser will show the extension shaded with the reasoning
listed above it. To update extensions select the gear in the right corner and
click “Check for Updates.” If updates
are found, install.
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Safari
Plugins
In order to access plugins in Safari, the “Help”
tab must be selected, followed by “Installed Plug-ins” from the drop down menu.
Each plugin is then listed with some information about it as well. To enable or
disable plugins in Safari go to “Safari” > “Preferences” > “Security”. At the bottom of the menu is a checkbox to Allow all other plug-ins. If this is
selected, then all third-party plugins are enabled. If it is not, then the
plugins are disabled. Also, when the Apple product performs system updates,
plugins are updated as well.
Extensions
These are also found in the Firefox Add-on Manager
as the second topic down in the left topic menu. They have similar options to
the plugins. Also, if a plugin is no
longer compatible with Firefox, due to update status, generic compatibility issues,
or level danger, The browser will show the extension shaded with the reasoning
listed above it. To update extensions select the gear in the right corner and
click “Check for Updates.” If updates
are found, install.
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Internet Explorer
Plugins
Internet Explorer calls plugins “add-ons” and
consolidates them into one menubox.
Extensions
Internet Explorer extensions can be accessed in the
“Manage Add-ons” window located in the “Tools” menu. Upon opening the manager,
“Toolbars and Extensions” should already be selected with the extensions shown
to the right. Upon selecting an extensions options will show up in the lower
section.
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Final Thoughts
With the increasing number of available browser add-ons
available, vulnerabilities are found regularly.
Because of this, developers patch their software and release updates
regularly. It is up to the user to apply
these updates.
For specific information on how to enable or disable Java,
visit the official help page and navigate to the instructions for
any browser that you use.
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Training & Documentation
Learn how to stay secure on Facebook.
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