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What is HP Sure Click? Virtualisation-Based Security for Your PC
Harry Stewart
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January 26, 2024
The worldwide web is a perilous place these days. From social engineering to data security failures and online scams, a plethora of potential threats can cause significant harm.
One of the most common cyber menaces is malware, malicious code designed to disrupt, damage, or infiltrate a computer system. Cybercrime costs the British economy an estimated £27 billion annually, much of which stems from browser-borne malware attacks.
With HP Sure Click, you can safeguard your computer from insidious code. This post will discuss what Sure Click is and how it keeps you safe online. We’ll then cover compatibility and provide some pointers on how to run HP Sure Click on your PC.
What is HP Sure Click?
HP Sure Click is threat containment software designed to protect your PC from browser-borne malware.
Traditional antivirus software relies on recognising suspicious patterns and already-identified malware. While this tried-and-tested technique provides a solid first line of defence, it doesn’t safeguard your computer from novel or evolving attacks.
With cybercriminals crafting new malicious code daily, HP Sure Click is essential for protecting your PC. Malware gets produced faster than antivirus software can identify it, so it’s prudent to incorporate additional defence.
Application isolation
Sure Click uses application isolation technology to trap malware and stop it from wreaking havoc on your PC. Instead of attempting to identify malicious code, it opens untrustworthy files and websites in an isolated virtual container. Also known as micro-virtual machines (micro-VMs), these secure, isolated containers keep malware safely segregated from the rest of your PC.
Once locked inside a micro-VM, malware cannot access your files or infiltrate other browser tabs. It’s essentially stuck in limbo inside a tiny virtual container with no way to escape. Upon closing the browser tab or file, HP Sure Click automatically deletes the micro-VM, including the malware trapped within.
Sure Click strengthens your HP computer security and complements your existing antivirus program by reinforcing your most vulnerable entry points.
Real-time browser-based protection
Malware can infiltrate your device upon visiting an infected webpage. Crafty tools like drive-by downloads and exploit kits mean infected websites can be dangerous to browse, even if you don’t download any files.
Surf the web without a worry, thanks to Sure Click Secure Browser. This Chromium™-based browser automatically opens new websites in an isolated container. Should a webpage harbour malware, the micro-VM will self-destruct - along with any nasty code held within - upon closing the tab.
HP Sure Click also lets you browse securely without manual whitelisting. The browser automatically whitelists a pre-determined selection of trusted sites.
There’s no need to download and configure an entirely new app. Extensions exist for the most popular Windows-based web browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
Protection for malware hidden in common files
Malware doesn’t just hide inside websites. Around 90% is delivered by email, typically through common and seemingly innocent file types. Other attacks come from files downloaded from an infected website.
HP Sure Click lets you safely open the two most common malware culprits: Microsoft Word and PDF. Upon downloading these file types - whether from a website or email attachment - HP Sure Click automatically opens a virtual container and stores them inside. You can then view PDFs or edit Microsoft Word files safely within your micro-VM.
The process uses the same hardware-enforced isolation techniques that quarantine suspicious websites. Malware-ridden files remain contained and have no way of infecting your PC.
How HP Sure Click keeps you safe online
HP Sure Click helps protect home and business users from malware, the most prevalent and destructive online threat. Malware is a catch-all term encompassing a broad range of malicious software: viruses, trojans, ransomware, worms, key loggers, spyware, bots, crypto-jacking and more.
By containing suspicious websites and high-risk files to a micro-VM, the HP Sure Click prevents malware from spreading to the rest of your PC. That means you can be sure every click you make is safe.
Unlike other advanced PC security solutions, HP Sure Click is a cinch to master. There are no special training or quarantine measures required. Most users won’t even realise this potent, hardware-enforced protection is operating in the background. Simply close down your browser tab or file, and any malware within vanishes along with the micro-VM.
Compatibility and availability
HP Sure Click is compatible with the Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. Supported browsers include Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Chromium.
HP Sure Click comes pre-installed or available for an online download on almost every HP Pro and Elite PC. Therefore, you can use the software for free on sought-after desktops like the HP ProDesk and HP EliteDesk series, as well as most HP EliteBook and HP ProBook laptops.
HP Sure Click is available on other computers through HP Wolf Security. This always-on, end-point platform combines various cutting-edge cyber security technologies to protect your PC. Sure Click covers the threat containment component through advanced virtualisation-based security processes.
HP Wolf for Business is a comprehensive security suite available as a subscription service on HP and non-HP PCs.
How to use HP Sure Click
HP Sure Click is designed to work seamlessly in the background with minimal user input.
Launching HP Sure Click
Look for the HP Sure Click icon in the system tray, usually in the bottom right corner of your screen. Right-clicking the icon lets you do three things: enable/disable HP Sure Click, start the HP Sure Click Desktop Console, or open HP Sure Click Live View.
- A green icon means HP Sure Click is enabled.
- A grey icon means HP Sure Click is disabled.
- A red icon indicates an error. Check the HP Sure Click Desktop Console to see the relevant status message.
Navigating the HP Sure Click Desktop Console
Opening the HP Sure Click Desktop Console provides some helpful information.
- The Health Status page displays an error message if the application has encountered an issue. Click on the message to obtain more information.
- The Security Status page displays how many supported documents and web pages the application has opened in a micro-VM. This figure is a running tally from when HP Sure Click was first installed.
- The Enable/Disable button lets you turn HP Sure Click on and off. Don’t forget to turn it back on again should you disable the program temporarily.
- The Micro-VM Counter shows how many virtual containers are currently open. Opening or closing micro-VMs will affect this figure.
HP Sure Click Configurations
The Configurations page lets you tweak various HP Sure Click settings.
- “Add HP Sure Click Secure Browser to the Start menu” adds the application’s icon to the Windows Start Menu.
- “Enable advanced protection” isolates all currently open webpages into micro-VMs. Some websites might malfunction or fail to load when isolated. Unless you have checked this box, these websites are generally exempt from HP Sure Click protection. Therefore, while checking the box improves security, it may reduce functionality with certain web pages.
- “Customer Experience Improvement” enables HP and its partners to collect security-related information to improve the application. Examples include threat files, event logs, URLs, and IP addresses.
- “Enable Logging” lets HP Sure Click record logging information. Should you encounter a problem, HP may ask you to enable this option so a technician can better investigate the issue. A notification lets you know this option is enabled every time you log in. Enabling or disabling logging requires a restart to take effect.
HP Sure Click Secure Browser
Open HP Sure Click Secure Browser by clicking on the icon from the Windows Start Menu or typing “HP Sure Click” into the search bar. If you would like to open the browser more quickly in the future, right-click the icon and click “Pin to taskbar.”
To save resources, the browser won’t open any trusted websites in a micro-VM. If you want to add trusted websites to the browser, open the “Add Trusted Site” feature and type in the relevant domain name. You can alter this entry by clicking the “edit” or “remove” buttons.
You will receive prompts to use HP Sure Click Secure Browser to open potentially infected links, such as those from browser webmail services, email applications, or chat clients.
Security Alerts
Every time malware runs inside a micro-VM, an entry will be generated on the Security Alert page. The user does not need to take action. Upon closing the relevant file or browser tab, HP Sure Click automatically deletes any malicious code and the virtual container.
Summary
HP Sure Click offers a powerful virtualisation-based security solution by confining potentially infected files and webpages to a micro-VM. As the virtual container opens and closes in the background, the user doesn’t need to do anything. This fully autonomous operation enhances security and productivity.
Looking to give HP Sure Click a try? The app comes pre-installed (or ready to download) on most HP Elite or Pro series PCs. Alternatively, sign up for HP Wolf Security to receive this potent protective measure and more. Feel sure every click is secure with HP Sure Click.
