One of the latest additions to the Google Chrome browser is the ability to force SSL. What this means is that the web browser will only open websites using the https protocol. Connections to insecure websites that only make use of the http protocol will not be initiated. Google Chrome will display the message that the webpage is not available in that case.
Why would someone want to force SSL in the web browser? The answer is easy: To increase security. This is an excellent way to deal with most phishing threats. Phishing sites are currently copying the looks and feels of popular financial sites. What they do not do is to make use of the https protocol. This means that those phishing pages would not even be opened in Google Chrome as they are not making use of https.
Here is the idea. Create a Google Chrome profile that forces SSL and that is purely used for accessing sensitive sites. This could be PayPal, Gmail, other financial sites and basically any site that is making use of the https protocol.
The ability to force SSL is only available in the latest developer’s build of Google Chrome. Read the Google Chrome 2 release announcement article for information on how to obtain a copy.
The force SSL option has to be supplied as a parameter during startup. This can be done by appending –force-https to the Target row in the shortcut’s properties.
Does anyone know if there is a similar option for Firefox or Opera?
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if you know the https enabled sites you visit… how about using opera in kiosk mode and add the sites to the whitelist… all other sites are blocked.
It’s a little bit slower than not active SSL because data will be encrypted before transfering. I think just active this if neccessary. Thanks.
You can use this userscript with good old Greasemonkey:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/29090
You have to configure the sites you visit that have https:// versions available (many are preconfigured). Not completely automatic, but still good.
Andy that’s a nice script but still not the same as the Google Chrome option. Google Chrome will NOT open http sites at all when forcing SSL.
the noscript firefox extension is also capable of forcing https connections… it’s under the advanced tab in the options…
Kurt I know about this setting but it is my understanding that normal sites are still opened when forcing ssl in NoScript.
You could take out all the sites in ‘included sites’ and set that to http://* to cover every site.
This functionality doesn’t seem to be working any for me. Can anyone confirm if it still works?
Secure your Web Browsing Experience with Jumpto – http://www.tech.nolicio.us/2011/09/privatize-your-browsing-experience-with.html