Ironically, Safari Web Content—a core element of what Apple calls WebKit2, the rendering engine that powers Safari—is actually an attempt by Apple to emulate one of Chrome’s key features: By. Google Chrome is a fast, simple, and secure web browser, built for the modern web. Chrome combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.
Please select a browser below to access instructions for configuring your browser to use the certificates on your CAC.
IE and Chrome
First check whether your certificates are already available to your browser.
For Internet Explorer 8.0 and above:
- Navigate to Tools > Internet Options > Content and click Certificates.
- On the Personal tab, review the list of certificates to determine if your CAC certificates are in the list. The certificates on your CAC will be issued by a DoD CA.
- If the certificates appear in the list, you are finished. If the certificates do not appear in the list, please see the note below.
For Google Chrome:
- Navigate to Tools > Options > Under the Hood and click Manage Certificates in the HTTPS/SSL section.
- On the Personal tab, review the list of certificates to determine if your CAC certificates are in the list. The certificates on your CAC will be issued by a DoD CA.
- If the certificates appear in the list, you are finished. If the certificates do not appear in the list, please see the note below.
NOTE: If your certificates are not in the list and you’re using ActivClient, please make sure it is installed correctly. If your certificates are not in the list and you are using other middleware, you can contact your CC/S/A for more information on the middleware requirements for your organization. You can find their contact information on our Contact Us tab.
Firefox
Below are complete instructions for using Firefox with your CAC. You may also download these instructions.
Install Certificates from InstallRoot
- Download and install the InstallRoot tool following the instructions in the InstallRoot User Guide or watch this video to learn how:
- Open the InstallRoot tool and select Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape from the Select Trust Store picklist at the bottom of the window.
- Ensure only the top Install DoD NIPRNET Certificates box is checked.
- Click the Install button and wait for the installation to complete. Please wait until you see a confirmation dialog indicating the tool is finished.
- Open Firefox
- Click on Tools > Options in the menu bar.
- In the Options window, go to Advanced > Encryption > Security Devices.
- In the new window, click on Load.
- Enter “ActivClient(CAC)” for the Module Name.
Click Browse to the right of the Module Filename field. Browse to the location of the ActivClient PKCS11 library, acpkcs211.dll. This is typically located at C:Program Files (x86)ActivIdentityActivClientacpkcs211.dll in ActivClient 6.2, and C:Windowssystem32acpkcs201-ns.dll in ActivClient 6.1 and earlier.
Click OK, and then OK again in the confirmation window.
- The confirmation message will show that the security device (CAC) was loaded. CAC certificates can now be used with the browser. Click OK to close the window.
- Open Firefox
- Click on Tools > Options in the menu bar.
- In the Options window, go to Advanced > Encryption > Validation.
- Ensure the option Use the OCSP to confirm the current validity of certificates is checked. Also ensure When an OCSP server connection fails, treat the certificate as invalid is checked.
Using Common Access Card (CAC) certificates in Firefox
These instructions will enable ActivIdentity’s ActivClient software to work within Firefox. Before proceeding, try to ensure the latest version of ActivClient is installed by going to the ActivClient website to check the latest version. Before installing the latest version, please uninstall any previous versions of ActivClient.
As of version 6.2, ActivClient by default configures Firefox to accept the CAC certificates without any additional configuration. You may use the following instructions to verify that it has been installed properly. If using an older version of ActivClient, these instructions will assist with proper configuration.
Ensure the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is Performing Revocation Checking
With any versions of ActivClient later than 6.2, these settings will be automatically configured. However, these instructions can be used to confirm proper configuration for older versions of ActivClient.
Safari
To get started you will need:
- CAC (see note below)
- Card reader
You can get started using your CAC on your Mac OS X system by following these basic steps:
- Get a card reader
Typically Macs do not come with card readers and therefore an external card reader is necessary. At this time, the best advice for obtaining a card reader is through working with your home component. In addition, please review the DoD CAC Reader Specifications for more information regarding card reader requirements. - Download and install the OS X Smartcard Services package
The OS X Smartcard Services Package allows a Mac to read and communicate with a smart card. In order for your machine to recognize your CAC certificates and DoD websites as trusted, the installer will load the DoD CA certificates on OS X. Please refer to this page for specific installation instructions. - Address the cross-certificate chaining Issue
These instructions walk through adjusting the trust settings on the Interoperability Root CA (IRCA) > DoD Root CA 2 and the US DoD CCEB IRCA 1 > DoD Root CA 2 certificates to prevent cross-certificate chaining issues. This can make it appear that your certificates are issued by roots other than the DoD Root CA 2 and can prevent access to DoD websites. - Configure Chrome and Safari, if necessary
Safari and Google Chrome rely on Keychain Access properly recognizing your CAC certificates.- In Finder, navigate to Go > Utilities and launch KeychainAccess.app
- Verify that your CAC certificates are recognized and displayed in Keychain Access
Note: CACs are currently made of different kinds of card stock. To determine what card stock you have, look at the back of your CAC above the magnetic strip. Most CACs are supported by the Smartcard Services package, however Oberthur ID One 128 v5.5 CACs are not. Third party middleware is available that will support these CACS; two such options are Thursby Software’s PKard and Centrify’s Express for Smart Card.
The world's number 1 browser
Google Chrome is the most widely used web browser in the world. Users enjoy its fast loading speed, cross-device integration, and tabbed browsing. Google Chrome does not come installed as a standard on new Macs or PCs. Their native web browsers (Safari and Microsoft Edge, respectively) are automatically installed, forcing users to install Chrome themselves.
Seamless internet navigation
Chrome is an ideal browser to enjoy easy, coordinated online browsing across various devices.
Whether you have a new Mac or an older one, Google Chrome sets the bar high for web browsers. You want a browser that is safe, easy to use, syncs data and content across all your devices, and operates quickly. Google Chrome is the solution that over 63% of the world turns to and with good reason. Mac users have distinguished taste and as such, expect high quality in their hardware and software products. Google Chrome delivers this to Mac users with its low CPU usage, reliability, and overall browsing experience. It delivers a high-quality browsing experience to Mac users with its low CPU usage, reliability, tabbed browsing, cross-device syncing, and lighting fast loading speed.
Google Chrome for Mac has a laundry list of features, earning its spot as the top web browser of choice for both Mac and PC users. It offers thousands of extensions, available through the Chrome web store, providing Mac owners with even more functionality. Adobe Flash is also available when you install Chrome on your Mac. The overall appearance is professional and clean. Enjoy customized browser preferences including your homepage of choice, sync and Google services, Chrome name and picture, importing bookmarks and settings, autofill capabilities (passwords, payments, addresses, etc.), toolbars, font, page zoom, and startup settings. Chrome’s user interface is incredibly easy to navigate. Multi-tasking just got easier with tabbed browsing, which not only helps productivity, but looks clean and organized. Since Chrome can be downloaded on all of your devices (computers, phones, tablets), if you open a browser or perform a search on one device, Chrome will auto-sync that work stream on your other devices. If you look up a dinner recipe at work on your Mac but need the ingredient list at the grocery store? No problem - pull up the same tab within Chrome on your iPhone. Once you are home and ready to start cooking, just pull up the same Chrome recipe tab on your tablet. With the world moving faster than ever before, functionality like this can help make life a little easier.
Chrome’s password, contact information, and payment autofill capabilities are revolutionizing users’ online experience. Upon your consent, Chrome’s autofill feature will easily fill out your name, address, phone number, email address, passwords, and payment information. If it’s time to register your child for the soccer season but your wallet is downstairs, Google Chrome has your back, helping you easily fill in the data, so you can stay in your comfy chair. Chrome will only sync this data on your approved devices, so you can rest easy that your information is safe. CPU usage is immensely important when choosing a web browser. Keep your Mac’s CPU free by browsing with Google Chrome, maximizing overall system performance. Chrome for Mac is currently available in 47 languages. It can only be installed on Intel Macs, currently limiting its userbase. Mac users can manage how their browsing history is used to personalize search, ads, and more by navigating to their 'Sync Settings' within Chrome. Encryption options, auto-completion of searches and URLs, similar page suggestions, safe browsing, and enhanced spell check are also available within the settings tab, helping users feel more in control of their browsing experience. Users also have the option to 'help improve Chrome' by automatically sending usage statistics, crash reports, visited URLs, and system information to Google, or can easily opt out within Chrome’s settings.
Where can you run this program?
Google Chrome is available on MacOS X Yosemite 10.10 or later, Windows 7 or later, Android, and iOS devices. Chrome may successfully install on devices with lesser system requirements; however, Google only provides support on a system meeting the minimum system requirements.
Is there a better alternative?
For Mac users, Safari is the standard out-of-the-box browser installed on new devices. Most users prefer a web browser with better functionality than Safari. Chrome is harder on a Mac’s battery life than Apple’s native Safari browser. However, Chrome comes out ahead of Safari in terms of browsing speed, extensions, and video loading capabilities. Safari does have many of Chrome’s features such as tab syncing across devices and auto-filling based on previous searches. Mozilla Firefox is another commonly used web browser among Mac users, though its memory usage knocks it down on the list of competitors. The main draw to Mozilla Firefox over Chrome is that because Firefox is open source, nothing fishy is going on behind the scenes. Google is notorious for capturing and using data which rightfully makes people uncomfortable.
Our take
Google Chrome Download Safari
Mac users tend to do things their own way. You’ve opted for the non-mainstream computer hardware, so using the native installed Safari browser seems in character. Safari’s minimalist look draws Mac users in as well. Google Chrome is much more 'going along with the crowd'. Putting that aside, Mac owners should dig into what they really use their web browsers for, and determine if data privacy or features is more important to them. Better yet, why not have two browsers?
Should you download it?
Yes. For Mac users, Google Chrome’s quick speed and helpful features makes it an excellent web browser choice. Google’s controversial collection of personal and usage data is sure to make some pause on whether to install Chrome or not. However, if you are comfortable or indifferent to Google’s data collection, go for it; the browser's overall functionality is impressive.
Highs
- Fast loading speed
- Thousands of extensions available via the chrome web store
- Tabbed browsing synced across devices
- Convenient auto-fill
Lows
Safari Browser Download
- Available on MacOS X Yosemite 10.10 or later
- Google’s aggressive data collection practices
Google Chromefor Mac
Download Chrome For Safari
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