Secure user Browser Activity using Hybrid Data Hiding Techniques

Abstract

Web browsers may delete some files but it doesn’t delete everything. The purpose of private browsing is for users to browse private mode just as a standard browsing session would, but without storing any data such as log-in credentials or browsing history upon exit. A secure framework to secure the web browser artefacts is proposed to fulfil the requirements. In order to compare and contrast the different methods of artefacts encryption, a hybrid method was introduced; Base64 + AES on the prototype. The test systems were created by utilising virtual machines. The prototype was developed using C# language in Microsoft Visual Studio application that runs on Windows. To provide countermeasures, this research proposes an implementation of a third-party privacy application, called PRINDOW, to improve security in hiding a user's browsing activity. Every browsing session is recorded and scanned using the prototype. This method allows only the base requirements to be installed on the virtual machine for each file with the cryptographic method. This framework could theoretically enhance current practises by making slight changes to the web browser's application structure.