Browser Security

Your browser is your gateway to the internet.  The more you allow though the gate the greater your exposure to risk.  You can improve the security of your online experience by increasing your browser's security settings, adding and restricting sites, and blocking pop ups.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer aids in making your browsing experience secure. Users of Internet Explorer can tailor it to their preference.

Steps to improve your security

    Raise your browser's security level

    Add safe web sites to Trusted/Restricted Sites

    Block pop-ups

Raise your browser's security level
To set the security level in Microsoft Internet Explorer:

  1. From the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

  2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab, and then click the Internet icon.

  3. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider to High. This sets the security level for all Web sites you visit to High. (If no slider is visible, click the Default Level button and then move the slider to High.)

Note  Setting the level to High may cause some Web sites to work improperly. If you have difficulty using a Web site after you change this setting and you are sure the site is safe to use, you can add that site to your list of trusted sites. This will allow the site to work properly even with the High security setting.

Add safe web sites to Trusted/Restricted Sites
To add a Web site to Trusted/Restricted sites:

  1. From the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

  2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab.

  3. Click the Trusted sites icon, and then click the Sites button.

  4. In the Trusted sites dialog box, enter the Web site URL in the Add this Web site to the zone box, and then click Add. The Trusted sites feature allows you to restrict trust to only sites that begin with https:. To include sites that begin with http:, including Microsoft Update, clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone checkbox.  Trusted site added. We recommend that you make Microsoft Update the first site you add.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Under Security level for this zone, move the slider to Medium. This sets the security level for all of the sites that you trust to Medium. (If no slider is visible, click the Default Level button and then move the slider up to Medium.)

Block pop-ups
To set the pop-ups settings

  1. From Internet Explorer 6, click Tools.

  2. Select Pop-Up Blocker.

  3. Select Pop-up Blocker Settings. When the Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box  appears, type in a website address underneath Address of Web site to allow. Only enter the host name, not the full path, i.e. http://www.anysite.com

  4. Click the Add button.

  5. Press Close to close the dialog box.

If you later wish to remove a site from the exceptions list:

  1. From Internet Explorer 6, Click Tools.Select Pop-Up Blocker.

  2. Select Pop-up Blocker Settings.

  3. When the Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box appears, select a site name from Allowed sites.

  4. Press the Remove button.

  5. Repeat steps 4-5 as desired.

  6. Press Close to close the dialog box.

For more information visit:

 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx