Page 1 of 1

Font blocking (mainly)

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:21 pm
by Gogg
Hey guys,

Just wondering something. Why are fonts blocked by NoScript ? What kind of threats does this mitigate ?


Also, side question while I'm at it, is there any protection gained from blocking URL "javascript:" for technically literate people ? Until now I thought it would only protect common users who would be tricked into copy/pasting a javascript: URL into their address bar, or clicking on a javascript: link. So if I can read the URL before running it I cannot be tricked. But maybe there are concealed ways to have them run that would work even on JS literate people ?
If not I'll just keep the javascript: blocking disabled.


Thanks :)

Re: Font blocking (mainly)

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:18 pm
by therube

Re: Font blocking (mainly)

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:00 pm
by Gogg
Wow, I didn't expect the custom fonts feature to require so much of a complex machinery. Now that does make sense to block it. Thanks :)
Though the last line of that article links to slides that talk about SVG font abuse among other things. Why doesn't NoScript block SVG ?


Also if anyone knows the reply to my less important question about "javascript:" URLs, I'm all ears :)

Re: Font blocking (mainly)

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 9:05 am
by Giorgio Maone
NoScript does block cross-site SVG.
Gogg wrote:But maybe there are concealed ways to have them run that would work even on JS literate people ?
As soon as you type the JavaScript snippet in first person and don't use copy&paste from a website (which can be easily hijacked) you should be relatively safe.

Re: Font blocking (mainly)

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:46 am
by Guest
Oh ok, only cross site SVG is blocked ! That must be why I didn't notice it. Good to know

And the protection from "javascript:" can stay disabled as well, which I prefer this way. I wanted to make sure there wasn't some way to trick the browser into automatically executing somehow. If it absolutely requires a copy/paste action from the user, it's safe for me even if the copy is hijacked.


Thanks for the answers !