PS4 Browser Security Is Changing: What Owners Should Check Before Visiting Gaming Sites

Sony has supported the PlayStation 4 for years, and while it’s still a decently capable gaming machine, it’s reasonable to expect an older console like this to gradually lose certain features as it reaches the end of its life cycle. The main issues owners need to look out for relate to security, because if you’re still using an aging console online, then you need to be aware of the risks involved.

The PS4’s web browser stands out as a bone of contention in this regard, as the end of support for web security services provided by Trend Micro is scheduled for August 2027, after which point using the app to surf the internet will become far less secure. That’s not to say you should stop using the browser altogether, but rather that you need to check a few things before visiting sites you regularly check out at the moment, like iGaming platforms.

Site Reputation Will Be Even More Important

Once the PS4’s browser doesn’t have all of its security features in place, you’ll need to be seriously picky about the gaming sites you visit. Thankfully, it’s easy to research the reputation of all manner of sites before you visit. For instance, only playing with these Inclave casinos, all of which fall under the same identity network to verify and protect customers, is a good move.

Disabling JavaScript May Be Necessary

If you’re worried about the PS4 web browser’s vulnerability, then a precautionary measure of disabling JavaScript when you first visit a gaming site that’s new to you is sensible. While it may interfere with the site’s functionalities, you can always re-enable it later once you’ve established that everything is above board.

Disabling JavaScript is as simple as opening the Settings menu and unchecking the option that enables it by default. You can also use this menu to check that the ‘Request Do Not Track’ checkbox is ticked, which is another nice little measure to keep your details private.

2FA Is Your Friend

Even with some of these proactive measures taken, you might still find that your PS4’s browser gets compromised at some point down the line if you continue using it. To hedge against this eventuality, make sure that you’ve enabled two-factor authentication for your PSN account, as this is a way of preventing malicious third parties from tinkering with your personal info and stealing your identity even if they do manage to retrieve your password.

Parental Controls Can Help

The PS4 has parental controls available, and while the in-browser equivalents of these are also being discontinued next year, there are top-level functions you can access from the console’s main Settings menu. Here, you can block the web browser app outright, or limit the sites it can access if that makes more sense for your use case.

In simple terms, the PS4’s browser is getting less secure over time, and you need to be ready for this change. Ideally, you’ll migrate to using an up-to-date device with proper security patches installed, but these checks are a decent halfway house until you can make the leap.