Everything to Know About Browser Isolation
Browsing on the internet is not only about downloading files and accessing information and visual content. Browser isolation is a cybersecurity method that separates web browsing from regional networks and hardware devices. This method reduces online risks by creating a barrier of security across unsafe websites and your computer. It prevents your network and hardware device from online threats before reaching you. In this blog, you will learn about browser isolation types, also how they work, and their importance. You will also know different other aspects of it in this blog.
What is Browser Isolation?
Browser isolation protects your device from malicious websites in an isolated environment. Cybercriminals are always looking for vulnerabilities in web browsers to make them unsafe for users. Developers who are responsible for building browsers make sure that harmful websites containing viruses do not get access to your network or hardware device. Still allowing users to browse on the internet brings risk with it. There are websites on the internet that contain malicious codes that can harm your network and entire device.
Browser isolation creates a cloud environment that helps distinguish your browsing activities from the other parts of your devices. So, if there is any harmful code on a website, it cannot reach your device.
What are the Types of browser isolation?
There are three types of browser isolation options; each type provides different levels of security. Remote browsing isolation is the most secure way of browsing on the internet, as it provides you with a separate environment where you can browse and stay protected from malicious websites.
1) Remote Browser Isolation
As said, it’s one of the most secure options; it runs the browser and JavaScript on a cloud server, which is inaccessible to your device or network you are using. Protects both from security risks.
These following major setups are done by the cloud providers; remote browser isolation loads content differently based on the setup you have.
Pixel-based display
In remote browser isolation, the cloud server processes the web page rather than on the local device and gives the result of web pages in the form of images or videos on the browser.
Final website view The website
The loads on the cloud server and the parts of the website, such as buttons and headings. Moreover, the overall structure of the website is modified into graphic representations before being shown on your device.
DOM Filtering in the Browser
It removes all the harmful elements and content from the webpage before reaching the user’s device. By DOM filtering, you are safe from any malicious attack that can come into your system and harm it.
2) In-premise Browser Isolation
On-premise browser isolation is the second type of browser isolation. It is similar to remote browser isolation, but one thing that makes it distinct from that type is the server is in your local network instead of in the cloud. It is better to provide data privacy as everything is inside your local network.
3) Client-Side Browser Isolation
Client-side browser isolation makes an isolated space, i.e., a virtual machine that acts as another smaller computer, into your device. If there’s anything malicious on the website you are accessing, it will remain in the virtual machine and will not harm your actual device and network.
Advantages of Using Browser Isolation Even though
Browser isolation adds security by keeping your web activities aside from the local network. The webpages are processed in the cloud or a virtual machine to keep you safe from malicious websites. Some benefits of browser isolation are:
Protects from Harmful Websites:
In browser isolation, JavaScript runs on a cloud server and not on your local hardware. So, whenever there is any website containing malicious code, it will be there and will not reach you.
Save You from Viruses Through Downloads:
If you unintentionally visit any harmful site or download any software with a virus, the remote server will store the virus in a protected area so it won’t affect your device. Moreover, if you use a VPN, it will add an extra security layer to your browsing network and will block all viruses before downloading. It uses AES-256-bit encryption, one of the strongest methods that keeps your data secure and encrypted.
Blocks Phishing Links
When you click on a harmful link, if it opens on the browser, it can be harmful to your device and system. With browser isolation, the webpage containing any harmful code will be opened on a distinct remote server.
Protect From Malicious Ads
Some advertisements on the website contain viruses, and if you click on them, they might take you to some third-party unsafe platforms. However, on browser isolation, these ads are run on a virtual machine or any remote server. Using iProVPN prevents you from such ads that won’t harm you on your local network.
Outdated Browser Risks
Old browsers usually can get attacked by viruses soon. Browser isolation provides a separate safe space where you are browsing. So if there is any harm, it will not directly affect your network and stay on the remote server.
Prevent Data Loss
An isolated browser environment enhances data loss prevention (DLP) techniques since malware cannot load on the user’s local computer.
Prevents Web-Based Malware
Hackers are always ready to attack your network if they find it vulnerable, finding browsers’ weaknesses and attacking with new threats. New threats take time for the fixes, due to the research of developers. Browser isolation does not open threat-containing websites directly on your local network and opens them on the remote server, so your device will not get the threat.
Here Are Some Threats That Browser Isolation Prevents
Clickjacking
In clickjacking, hackers hide links under regular website buttons; the user gets tricked and then clicks on the button to proceed further. However, users do not know that there’s a hidden link that hackers are using to hack them once they click on the button. Additionally, browser isolation blocks the dangerous code from the websites.
Prevents Cookie Theft
Browser isolation protects against attacks, including cross-site scripting (XSS). If cookies or session IDs are stolen from websites, they will be caught in the remote server, and your actual device will stay safe, as the website that steals cookies won’t reach directly to your device.
Working on Browser Isolation
URL of the site that starts with HTTP or HTTPS protocol, “s” in HTTPS indicates security, and it’s most safest protocol, it protects you from online attacks on your website. Moreover, not every website that does not use HTTPS is unsafe, but it is hard to predict which ones are safe then.
Browser isolation acts as a guard and does not trust every website. Having a zero-trust approach, it provides a specific server where websites can run. If there is any harm, it remains in the virtual server, and your device or network won’t be affected by any harm. This is how browser isolation normally works:
Browsing in Remote Servers
All the browsing is done on the virtual or cloud server, which makes an independent, secure space where browsing happens.
Deletes All Data Once Browsing Finishes
When you finish browsing on a virtual machine, it deletes all the browsing data and login sessions on the websites. Also, if there are viruses stored in the virtual space from the website or any file that you had downloaded over the internet. All malicious links get deleted.
A New Start After Cleaning Browsing Data
When you open the browser again after closing it, you will start a new one in a clean environment. The space will be free from harmful viruses and unsafe links. It will allow you to browse in a safe environment.
Conclusion
Browser isolation is a cybersecurity method that helps you to browse safely and securely over a remote server. Websites that contain any harmful piece of code don’t load directly on your local network since browsing is happening on the remote server. So, this remote server keeps the virus from coming in links or files, and no virus will reach your device or network. There are three types of browser isolation. Client-side isolation, on-premise isolation, and remote browser isolation. Remote-based isolation is the best among the other two, as the server is not on your device. This means it protects you the most from phishing attacks, malware, and other attacks. However, each type has its own best features and keeps your browsing secure. The selection can be done based on your level of needs.
FAQs
- What is browser isolation?
Browser isolation allows users to browse in a secure virtual space. Client-side browser isolation, on-premise browser isolation, and remote browser isolation are the three primary forms of browser isolation.
- What difficulties are there in remote browsers?
High latency, high bandwidth consumption, and high expenses can arise from sandboxing a lot of browsing sessions and then streaming them to users.
- Can I use iProVPN with browser isolation?
Yes! You can use iProVPN with browser isolation; it will encrypt your network connection for privacy. And will conceal your IP address with the VPN server so you can easily browse the global content without restriction. iProVPN will block all the malicious links from the websites and irritating ads.
- How many types of browser isolation are there, and which one to use?
Types of browser isolation are:
- Client-side isolation
- On-premise isolation
- Remote browser isolation
The configurations and advantages of each type vary.
- How do I install iProVPN for the browser?
Install the iProVPN extension for browsers Chrome and Firefox. Then sign in to the VPN app extension, connect to your preferred country server, and finally connect to the VPN.
