If you’re getting targeted with surprisingly relevant ads, there’s a chance your internet activity is being tracked and analyzed by market researchers. While this doesn’t bother most people, private browsing mode can offer you some protection against online marketers and would-be data thieves.

For all the time we spend discussing the complexity of internet security, there are a few simple things you can do. Avoiding websites that aren’t secured with the HTTPS protocol is one of them. It’s a habit that can be developed with a better understanding of what the padlock icon in your web browser’s address bar represents.

In the first week of 2018, security researchers announced that modern computer processors have a fundamental flaw called Spectre. If exploited, hackers could gain access to systems that store confidential information. And the most vulnerable to these attacks are outdated web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.

Firefox has seen better days before the arrival of Google Chrome. But earlier this week, Mozilla, the nonprofit organization behind Firefox, has announced an upgrade that gives other internet browsers a run for their money. Here’s what you need to know.

Recently, an unprecedented strain of ransomware known as “WannaCry” infected hundreds of thousands of computers across the globe. This horrible campaign has forced small businesses to revisit the security of their IT infrastructure. It’s a complicated endeavor, but reevaluating your web browsers is a quick and easy place to start.

In today’s modern day and age, the term “upgrade” has become associated with everything from hotel rooms to web browsers. It usually implies “better,” and who wouldn’t want that? After returning from a brief break, the web browser debuted its arsenal of upgraded functions -- 8 to be exact -- that helps make every browsing session more effortless and efficient.

You may have mixed feelings about ad blockers. On one hand, you may love that they create a smoother browsing experience. And on the other, you may cringe knowing that other Internet users are likely blocking ads your business is creating. So with the upcoming release of Opera’s native ad blocker, business owners are likely to have mixed feelings.