Though there are multiple scanners out there that you can use to protect yourself from the Heartbleed OpenSSL vulnerability, which require you to punch in and scan websites manually. We urge that you not only continue to do so, but also check out a Google Chrome extension called Chromebleed.
When installed, Chromebleed will present you with notifications that tell you whether the website you’re currently using is vulnerable to Heartbleed or not. If you’d like to give Chromebleed a spin, here’s how to get your hands on it. However, keep in mind that this browser extension is currently specific to Google Chrome. It’s not available for any of the other popular Web browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera.
How to Install Chromebleed for Google Chrome
First, open Google Chrome. Then, click the bar in the top right corner of the window with three black, horizontal bars on it. From there, click “Settings,” and then click “Extensions” on the upper left corner of the new window that appears after hitting “Settings.” Now, click the blue “Get more extensions” button.
Then, click the Search box in the upper left corner of the Chrome web store, type in Chromebleed, and press Enter. Chromebleed should be the only result you get. Click the blue “+ Free” button on the right side of the screen to install Chromebleed, and then click “Add” once the confirmation box appears. Chromebleed should take less than half a second to install, and will run in the background when you use Google Chrome. However, you’re not done just yet.
MORE: How to check if your favorite websites are vulnerable to the Heartbleed OpenSSL bug
Right-click the Chromebleed icon (symbolized by a bleeding heart directly to the left of the “Settings” button) in the upper right hand corner of Google Chrome, and click “Notifications.” Then, check the “Show All Notifications” box, as well as the “Notifications Activated” box, if it isn’t selected already. With these two options enabled, Chromebleed will tell you the status of every site you visit in Google Chrome while you have the extension enabled. If you don’t deem “Show All Notifications” to be necessary, you can always de-select it at any time.
What do you think of Chromebleed? Sound off in the comments below.
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