Most readers come to this blog through search engine are searching for most secure browser. I’ve tried searching any research to test browser security. The latest testing I can found was performed by NSS Labs, in September 2010. This result maybe obsolete, but it’s the best I can find. It tested web browser protection against socially-engineered malware, which the most common and impactful security threat facing Internet users today. The web browser tested are Apple Safari 5, Google Chrome 6, Windows Internet Explorer 8, Windows Internet Explorer 9, Mozilla Firefox 3.6, and Opera 10.

The method they used in their research are gathering evidence during 11 days of 24 x 7 testing, performed every six hours, over 39 discrete test runs, each one adding fresh new malware URLs. A socially-engineered malware URL they means in this research is a web page link that directly leads to a download that delivers a malicious payload whose content type would lead to execution, or more generally a website known to host malware links. These downloads appear to be safe, like those for a screen saver application, video codec upgrade, etc., and are designed to fool the user into taking action. Security professionals also refer to these threats as “consensual” or “dangerous” downloads.

Here is the result:

Most Secure Browser - Test

It gave Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 with consecutive win from another web browser. SmartScreen Filter technology equipped on that browser is success in giving malware protection. With a unique URL blocking score of 94% and over-time protection rating of 99%, Internet Explorer 9 was by far the best at protecting against socially-engineered malware. The 89% zero-hour block rate suggests a far superior malware identification, collection, and classification method. They also noted that there is overall decline in protection offered by Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. They urged that browser users to be concern and should install endpoint protection products giving malware protection compensating lack of protection offered by those browsers.

Download full report: NSS – Web Browser Test Socially-Engineered Malware Q3 2010

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