Assessing Browser Extension Effectiveness Against Spear Phishing Attacks with ZPhishing Tool in Kali Linux and Browser Exploitation via BeEF on Ubuntu VMWare

Abstract

Introduction: Browser exploitation exploits vulnerabilities in web browsers, posing threats to user privacy and security. In response to these challenges, browser extensions have emerged as potential tools for strengthening defenses against such threats.

Objectives: This paper evaluates the efficacy of browser extensions in defending against spear phishing attacks and browser exploitation techniques targeting home users.

Methods: Utilizing the ZPhisher toolkit in Kali Linux for spear phishing simulations and the BeEF framework on Ubuntu VMWare for browser exploitation, the study assesses various browser extensions' performance in detecting and blocking phishing attempts and preventing exploitation.

Results: The research identifies SafeToOpen Online Security and Criminal IP: AI-Based Phishing Link Checker as effective in phishing detection, while NoScript proves successful in browser exploitation prevention. These extensions demonstrate proactive defense mechanisms, alerting users to threats and blocking malicious connections.

Conclusions: The evaluation of various extensions revealed notable effectiveness in mitigating these threats, with SafeToOpen Online Security emerging as a preferred option for phishing detection and NoScript for browser exploitation prevention. The simulated spear phishing attack and browser exploitation utilizing ZPhishing on Kali Linux and BeEF on Ubuntu VMWare demonstrated that these extensions offer proactive defense mechanisms. The researchers recommend educating users on browser security, ensuring regular extension updates, and integrating machine learning for enhanced threat detection. Browser extensions offer accessible and effective defenses against evolving cyber threats, safeguarding users' privacy and security in the digital realm.