Hot Take [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings

Evjl's Rain

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Comparison between browser extensions

Test 29/12
Q&A - [Updated 29/12/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 24/11
Q&A - [Updated 24/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 12/11
Q&A - [Updated 12/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 7/11
Q&A - [Updated 7/11/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 6/9
Q&A - [Updated 3/9/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 3/9
Q&A - [Updated 3/9/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test 2/9
Q&A - [Updated 25/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Test, quick 1/9
Q&A - [Updated 25/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Fun test 25/7/2018
Q&A - [Updated 24/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 24/7/2018 (most comprehensive, as possible)
Q&A - [Updated 24/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 19/7/2018
Q&A - [Updated 10/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 18/7/2018
Q&A - [Updated 10/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 10/7/2018
Q&A - [Updated 10/7/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 7/6/2018
Q&A - [Updated 7/6/2018] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 3/6/2018
Q&A - [Updated 3/6/18] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Updated 25/4/2018
Poll - [Updated 25/4/18] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings


Update: 23/3/2018
Poll - [Updated 23/3/18] Browser extension comparison: Malwares and Phishings



Browser: Google Chrome 65 x64
Malware and phishing links: 10 malc0de, 10 vxvault, 10 openphish, 10 verified phishtank, 10 unverified phishtank
Total: 50 links
Extensions: recently downloaded from Chrome Web Store
- Google Safe Browsing (built-in chrome's protection)
- AdGuard AdBlocker: default settings, uses Google Safe Browsing (delayed) and their own database
- Avira browser safety: default settings
- Norton Safe Web: default settings
- Bitdefender Trafficlight: default settings, it rarely blocks any malware links, just old ones
- Avast Online Security: default settings, only has phishing protection, expected to score 0 against malwares
- Netcraft Extension: default settings, only has phishing protection, expected to score 0 against malwares
- uBlock Origin with some additional filters

NOTE: the result can vary from day-to-day. Tomorrow with different links, the result can be very different. All are live links but they can be dead a few minutes after the test. No duplication

Results:
result.png


Winner: Google Safe Browsing
 
Last edited:

HarborFront

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it is a list of the latest malwares from urlhaus. Someone created this filter and updates it 2 times a day => this can be a problem but still worth adding
this is a source that I use to test extensions where many of the tested extensions miss
Thanks

There are many filters out there for uBO. Like to list the bests which will not bog down net surfing?
 
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Evjl's Rain

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Thanks

There are many extensions out there for uBO. Like to list the bests which will not bog down net surfing?
any of them if you don't add too many filters. It should be less than 300-500k filters depends on your specs
ublock seems to be the lightest and most configurable
adguard is the least configurable, can't update custom filters

ublock because you can add all types of filter available and it's fully compatible
 

Gandalf_The_Grey

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any of them if you don't add too many filters. It should be less than 300-500k filters depends on your specs
ublock seems to be the lightest and most configurable
adguard is the least configurable, can't update custom filters

ublock because you can add all types of filter available and it's fully compatible
In the new AdGuard beta 3.0.3 you van add and update custom filters.
It's a bit lighter than before, but uBlock remains the lightest and most configurable.

Adguard Custom filter.jpgChrome taakbeheer.jpg
 

Windows_Security

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@Evjl's Rain

Special request: ADD off the shelf Chrome with safe browsing and popup/adblock enabled when testing malware/phishing websites with these two ADDITIONAL FLAGS enabled:
- block unsafe downloads over insecure connections
- mark non-secure origins as non-secure (actively mark as unsafe)

Consider every page non-blocked over HTTPS connection as a FAIL. This makes the testing job easier for you since you only have to check HTTPS websites, for this 'hardened Chrome option".

This 'hardened Chrome variant' provides a better insight over the added value of an extension or adding an additional URL block list to an already bloated micro management general purpose blocker.

see Video - McAfee WebAdvisor Tested (Computer Solutions)
 
Last edited:

Moonhorse

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Does this include nano adblocker since it is based of uBlock Origin (uBO)
You can add it to nano adblocker similar way you add filters to ublock origin

You can see wich lists your ublocker has, and nano has more filters by default, but no...it doesnt include that filter evjl posted
 
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Evjl's Rain

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@Evjl's Rain

Special request: ADD off the shelf Chrome with safe browsing and popup/adblock enabled when testing malware/phishing websites with these two ADDITIONAL FLAGS enabled:
- block unsafe downloads over insecure connections
- mark non-secure origins as non-secure (actively mark as unsafe)

Consider every page non-blocked over HTTPS connection as a FAIL. This makes the testing job easier for you since you only have to check HTTPS websites, for this 'hardened Chrome option".

This 'hardened Chrome variant' provides a better insight over the added value of an extension or adding an additional URL block list to an already bloated micro management general purpose blocker.

see Video - McAfee WebAdvisor Tested (Computer Solutions)
I will check it out. Thanks
however, I'm afraid it would block some safe downloads coming from http sites. It's a deal-breaker for me
 

Windows_Security

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@Evjl's Rain

I do appreciate your efforts and tests. I sincerely think it will provide new insights. When it is so easy to protect oneself from malware (drive-by) downloads from HTTP websites, this point of view should be taken into consideration (average PC-user does not play with software but simply uses it), maybe not for power users testing software, but for people helping 'Average Joe/Jane' PC-users.

E.g when Bitdefender Traffic light blocks 17 out of 30 and Malware Bytes blocking blocks 28 out of 30, it might make sense to replace Bitdefender with Malware Bytes extension. When you only had one sample originating from HTTPS and that one was blocked by Bitdefender Trafficlight and missed by Malware Bytes this fact would change the perspective on what extension to choose (advise) for average users.

Regards Kees
 
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Moonhorse

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malwarebytes blocked many well known legitatite sites. i could not white list them. i had to

uninstall malwarebytes. just my opinion.
Kinda user dependant, myself i rarely run into that case and whitelisting is very simple
With decent high-end pc i have no slowdowns, wich probably do exist on low specs pcs
I think i rather have higher security with higher false positive count, than hitting miss once:sneaky:
 

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