Building Browser Security Block by Block with CIS Benchmarks

In cybersecurity, it’s not always the flashy attacks or advanced tactics that cause the most damage. Often, it’s the small, unaddressed vulnerabilities lurking in your everyday tools that open the door for major threats. In this week’s webinar, Tarah Wheeler of Red Queen Dynamics joined Senteon to highlight how CIS Benchmarks for Microsoft Edge can close those gaps, one setting at a time.

As Tarah shared her wealth of knowledge, we dove into the power of making small but significant changes to browser settings. It’s all about tightening controls, layering defenses, and ensuring your systems don’t leave any openings for attackers to exploit.

History Doesn’t Lie: The Importance of Audit Trails

If there’s one lesson every cybersecurity professional knows, it’s that logs don’t lie. That’s why disabling the ability to delete browser history is so crucial. When users can wipe their tracks clean, you’re left without a key piece of the puzzle when something goes wrong.

During the webinar, Tarah explained how browser history plays a crucial role in forensic investigations. “Think of browser history like a breadcrumb trail,” she said. “Without it, you might lose sight of what led to a potential breach.”

By disabling history deletion, you’re ensuring that audit trails stay intact, providing critical data when it’s needed most. And remember: even small organizations can benefit from this practice, as it applies not only to enterprise-level companies but also to SMBs trying to stay ahead of threats.

Takeaway: Keep browser history deletion disabled to maintain a strong forensic trail in the event of a breach or investigation.

Convenience vs. Security: Why Auto-Fill is a Bad Idea

Everyone loves a shortcut, but when it comes to security, shortcuts often come at a high price. One of the most tempting browser features is auto-fill for passwords, addresses, and payment information. While convenient, it’s a feature that presents real risks.

In the webinar, Tarah discussed why disabling auto-fill settings is one of the easiest ways to limit your attack surface. Auto-fill makes sensitive information too accessible—often without users realizing it. Whether it’s a password or a payment detail, if it’s stored in your browser, it’s one more vulnerability waiting to be exploited.

“We’re not saying don’t save time,” Tarah noted. “We’re saying don’t let convenience be the reason your data gets compromised.” By disabling auto-fill, you’re forcing users to rely on secure methods for storing and managing sensitive information—like password managers.

Takeaway: Disable auto-fill for sensitive data to reduce the chance of compromising important details like passwords or payment information.

Defending Against Data Leaks: Blocking Synchronization Services

One of the more hidden but significant risks in Microsoft Edge is the synchronization of data across devices. While syncing can seem like a useful feature, especially in multi-device work environments, it can also become an entry point for attackers.

Tarah emphasized why it’s important to disable synchronization services in Edge. When data is synced across devices, it’s often stored in ways that are easier for attackers to access. Disabling this feature means limiting the potential for data to spread uncontrollably, making it harder for attackers to gain entry.

“Keep your work data where it belongs—on your work devices,” Tarah explained. This simple change ensures that work-related data stays within your secure network, minimizing exposure.

Takeaway: Disable synchronization services to prevent your data from leaking across multiple devices, limiting potential entry points for attackers.

From Checklists to Automation: Simplifying Security with Tools

One of the recurring themes throughout the webinar was the importance of automation in cybersecurity. Tarah, Rich, and Zach all emphasized how Senteon’s platform helps eliminate the manual labor associated with configuring settings, ensuring compliance, and monitoring changes.

Tarah compared this to her pilot training, where checklists are vital for making sure everything is in place before a flight. In cybersecurity, we need similar checklists to ensure settings are correct and systems are secure. However, relying on manual processes for these checklists is time-consuming and error-prone. Automation, on the other hand, ensures that critical updates and configurations happen behind the scenes, without the need for human intervention.

“We’re fighting a battle where time matters,” Tarah reminded us. “Automation gives you an edge, literally and figuratively.”

Takeaway: Implementing automated tools like Senteon can help secure systems quickly and efficiently, reducing the likelihood of misconfigurations and ensuring compliance with CIS Benchmarks.

The Final Layer: Disabling Legacy Extensions

Another important point brought up in the webinar was blocking legacy browser extensions. Many businesses don’t realize that old, outdated extensions can still run on modern browsers like Microsoft Edge, providing attackers with a potential avenue to exploit vulnerabilities.

“Just like you wouldn’t keep using a rusty lock on your front door, you shouldn’t let legacy extensions linger in your browser,” Tarah explained. By disabling these extensions, you close off another entry point for attackers, reducing the risk of an attack slipping through the cracks of outdated technology.

Takeaway: Disable legacy browser extensions to eliminate unnecessary vulnerabilities and reduce your attack surface.

Conclusion: Small Changes, Big Impact

Each setting discussed in this week’s webinar may seem minor on its own, but together, they form a comprehensive defense strategy for securing Microsoft Edge. By tightening privacy controls, eliminating unnecessary features, and leveraging automation, you’re not only protecting your systems but also ensuring compliance with industry standards like CIS Benchmarks.

Tarah’s advice throughout the session was clear: it’s not about making massive, sweeping changes—it’s about fine-tuning your settings and layering your security to stay one step ahead of potential threats.

Call to Action (CTA):
Catch the full episode featuring Tarah Wheeler to learn more about hardening your systems! Watch the episode here.

Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes—register today to stay informed and secure your systems! Sign up here.

Interested in learning how your system measures up? Get a free internal and external report by contacting Senteon with the comment “settings webinar” here.