Few users who use the most popular browsers for Internet surfing know that in most of them a plugin called WebRTC is activated by default. Even fewer people who clearly imagine what this add-on is for, what it is used for, how to disable WebRTC (in Mozilla, for example), and is it worth it at all. Let's try to dot all the "and".
What is WebRTC?
To begin with, what kind of tool it is and why users may need it. This small extension, the abbreviation of which is derived from the full English name Web real-time communication, is a kind of client that allows you to organize voice or video communication sessions directly from the browser without using additional plug-ins or specially designed programs for this.
This add-in works on the basis of P2P data streaming technology (as in peer-to-peer networks). On the one hand, in general terms it looks good. However, each user who primarily cares about the security of his system must clearly understand that with such an organization, the WebRTC client is able to disclose the external IP address of the computer on which it is used. But the address is not only disclosed, but also transmitted to the terminals receiving the stream, which is fraught with very detrimental consequences if an attacker contacts your computer.
Among other things, the technology itself is designed in such a way that no VPN clients help. Yes, they change the external address, but the problem is that the built-in plug-in “knows” the IP you are looking for, and there is absolutely no guarantee that the address will not be transmitted “to the side” when the VPN is turned off. True, the transfer, as it is believed, can be made only by establishing a connection between two computers. However, it is very doubtful that an attacker or an advanced hacker will use such a primitive method, because it is enough to simply give a request and disconnect after a few seconds when answering. But what if you work for a large company that does not want to reveal its secrets or confidential information? This is where questions arise about how to disable WebRTC in any browser used. The methods for deactivating this add-on for different browsers do not differ much from each other, but when performing such actions, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the settings of the browsers themselves.
How to disable WebRTC in Opera?
So, let's start with the simplest. Suppose you have Opera installed, or you are using its portable version. How to disable WebRTC in this browser?
To deactivate the plugin, go to the main settings section and go to the security section. Here you need to scroll through the window with the parameters and find the item with WebRTC settings. There is an unprotected UDP disable item in the list, which you need to activate.
Disabling a service in Mozilla
Now let's see how to disable WebRTC in Firefox Portable or in a stationary browser modification. First of all, enter the combination about: config in the address bar and agree to further actions in the warning window.
Then in the search bar enter media.peerconnection.enabled, then select the switch point via the right mouse button on the found parameter.
Deactivating a module in Chrome
If we talk about how to disable WebRTC in the popular browser from Google, there is nothing particularly complicated here, although it is impossible to deactivate using the built-in browser tools.
To perform the required operation, you can use additional plug-ins like WebRTC Block or WebRTC Leak Prevent, which, after integration into the browser, will prevent data leakage through the installed add-in by completely blocking it in automatic mode, as indicated by the green color icon with an exclamation mark on the main panel top right.
One stop solution
Finally, let's see how to disable WebRTC using a universal technique that applies to any well-known web browser. It is especially useful to all those users whose browsers have no built-in means of deactivating the described client (for example, in the case of "Chrome" or the "Yandex" browser).
It is believed that this is best suited to the specially developed universal WebRTC Control applet, which, as in the past case, is installed in the browser as a plug-in (extension) and blocks possible data leakage in fully automatic mode. True, the plus of such an addition is that if necessary, the blocked client can be turned on again, which cannot be done when integrating into the browser similar add-ons shown in the example with Chrome.
Is it necessary to disable WebRTC?
And, apparently, many users have already guessed that it is not worth keeping such an unsafe communication channel open. Of course, when it comes to home computers, it is unlikely that some attacker wants to steal some information from you. But if browsers are installed on office terminals, there is no such security guarantee. In addition, if it is already necessary to organize voice chat or video conferencing, you can always use more advanced programs like Viber, Skype, Facebook Messenger and the like. By the way, in the same “Opera” the Facebook messenger and the Hangouts applet from Google were installed initially, but you can add any other application or replace existing ones if you wish. And you can find them directly on the left vertical panel.
Naturally, many may have legitimate doubts about the advisability of deactivating this module. But here you should pay attention to two important factors. Firstly, not every ordinary user will use this applet to communicate through a browser. And secondly, most do not know how to use it, not to mention the fact that some do not even know about its existence. Finally, third-party programs designed specifically for organizing communication via the Internet have much greater capabilities, settings and controls than the tool described above. In any case, there is nothing wrong with disconnecting, and the security of the user computer will only benefit from this.