IE Browser Protection/Safe Surfing

[Golden]

Hi,

I'm interested in some educated opinions on browser protection or safe surfing software/add-ons for IE.

Previously, I was uisng NIS2011 (including its browser protection), and whilst it did a magnificent job, and I rate it very highly, I found that with time (probably due to software updates/patches?) that the NIS suite just used far too many resources resulting in a doubling of my boot time. I have subsequently replaced NIS with MSE : I am very happy with that and plan to continue using it. As an added bonus, my boot time has also halved. The only drawback is that MSE doesn't offer browser protection or a safe surfing module/plug-in.

As far as I know, I can install and run either:

1. Web of Trust
2. Norton Safe Web Lite

I'm currently experimenting with WoT, but being used to NIS, I am tempted to use the Norton product. Both are free.

Can anyone offer an opinion based on their experience of these products? Perhaps there should be others I might consider? What are your recommendations?

Thanks,
Golden

 

[Airbot]

The new Avast 6 version also has a webrep plugin now which is based on user ratings like WOT, so there's that also, but it's in it's infancy state ATM so it won't be quite accurate for quite some time until more and more users rate I would think.

 

[jav]

Not really site rating plugins like you are asking, but if you are using IE as your main browser this could help you:

EMET
Download details: Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit v2.0
It is a tool developed by Microsoft (actually by Technet developers, so it's not officially supported by Microsoft), it aims to use pseudo-mitigation techniques (like DEP, HEap Spray protetion, EAF and etc) to protect software (IE in your case, but you may add other buggy softwares aswell, like pdf, video player) from possible exploits.

more read:
The Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit 2.0 is Now Available - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
Protecting your Windows PC with Microsoft EMET 2.0 - rationallyPARANOID.com

small tests on EMET:
Testing exploits against systems running Microsoft EMET - rationallyPARANOID.com
Use EMET 2.0 to block Adobe Reader and Acrobat 0-day exploit - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
DEP, EMET protect against attacks on the latest Internet Explorer vulnerability - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Tutorial from Brink: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/133386-enhanced-mitigation-experience-toolkit-emet.html?filter

Another suggestion is lock-down IE with group policies (as I can see that you have windows 7 Ultimate edition).
Just write gpedit.msc and look through it.

 

[Golden]

Thanks Jav. As you said, not exactly what I am looking for, but EMET looks very, very useful indeed - I will certainly take a closer look at it.

Thanks,
Golden