Overview

Everyone uses email and web browsers to communicate and access a wide variety of systems from commercial sites to enterprise systems. Email and web browser applications represent two of the most essential tools for communication and information access. Vulnerabilities are a common concern and these applications are prime targets for cyber attacks.

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) states:

"Web browsers and email clients are very common points of entry and attack because of their technical complexity, flexibility, and their direct interaction with users and with other systems and websites. Content can be crafted to entice or spoof users into taking actions that greatly increase risk and allow introduction of malicious code, loss of valuable data, and other attacks. Since these applications are the main means that users interact with untrusted environments, these are potential targets for both code exploitation and social engineering."

Email Security

Email is a common attack vector for phishing and malware distribution. Being cautious with links and attachments, especially from unknown senders, and utilizing email services with phishing protection and spam filtering are key strategies. Additionally, encryption protocols, such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt email in transit, and End-to-End encryption can add additional layers of protection to secure email.

Email authentication protocols, such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), Multifactor Authentication (MFA), combined with regular patching and updates provide methods to prevent messages from being tampered with, protect against spoofing, add additional layers of security, and reduce a bad actor's ability to utilize weakness to exfiltrate information.

Web Browser Security

Browsers are the gateway to the internet, and just like email they are frequent targets for malware and scams. To stay vigilant, utilize Secure Connections (HTTPS), keep browsers up to date, and disable unnecessary plugins.

AI/LLM and Web Browsers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLM) offer useful functionality, and can pose some security risks simultaneously. The risk is inherent on how the plugin is designed, how the plugin handles data, and what permissions are required for the plugin to function properly. Some key security concerns are:

  • Data Privacy and Leakage - AI plugins require text input and connection to an outside server. This can potentially lead to confidential information being leaked.

  • Unauthorized Access - Plugins with extensive permissions have the potential to be exploited, allowing attackers to monitor activity.

  • Malicious Code Injection - A compromised plugin could potentially inject malicious code leading to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), or man-in-the-middle attacks.

  • Dependency on Third-Party Applications - Many AI plugins rely on third-party APIs. If the API is compromised attackers could gain access to sensitive data.

  • Security Vulnerabilities in AI Models - A new attack that is becoming more commonplace with AI/LLM is a Prompt Injection Attack. A prompt injection attack occurs when an attacker manipulates the AI model into influencing the output, thereby leading to the possible disclosure of sensitive information. Prompt injection attacks were named by OWASP as a top security threat to LLMs.