Browser Security From Google
The Browser Security Handbook (BSH) from search engine company Google has been published under free license.
Aimed at web developers, browser engineers and security researchers, the BSH gives a basic insight into HTML, HTTP, Javascript and the construction of URL's. In addition, it explains web browser security features, for example, how they handle cookies and deals with websites that use components from different servers.
The handbook takes an in-depth look at the individual features of Internet Explorer 6 and 7, Opera, Apple Safari as well as Google's own Chrome. Versions 2.0.0.18 and 3.0.3 and Google's Linux-based browser, mobile SDK Android, also come under scrutiny.
Responsible for the project is Google's Michael Zalewski, who also worked on Chrome, Ratproxy and numerous other web security tools. On the BSH, he had the help of nine other developers.
The Handbook presently exists as Wiki entries on a Google project page and is licensed under the very liberal Creative Commons License that allows the distribution and modification, provided the original author is mentioned.
A complimentary tarball with browser test cases under the Apache License 2.0 is also available.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.
-
openSUSE Tumbleweed Ditches AppArmor for SELinux
If you're an openSUSE Tumbleweed user, you can expect a major change to the distribution.
-
Plasma 6.3 Now Available
Plasma desktop v6.3 has a couple of pretty nifty tricks up its sleeve.
-
LibreOffice 25.2 Has Arrived
If you've been hoping for a release that offers more UI customizations, you're in for a treat.
-
TuxCare Has a Big AlmaLinux 9 Announcement in Store
TuxCare announced it has successfully completed a Security Technical Implementation Guide for AlmaLinux OS 9.