Happy Trails Computer Club |
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| Browser Security Settings | ||||||||||||
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Browser settings are only one of the many groups of settings that are important for Internet security. Make sure you're using the right system and email client settings as well. I've provided instructions for Internet Explorer and Mozilla. If you're using another browser, you should do something similar. Internet Explorer security settingsFriends don't let friends use Internet Explorer. They recommend something safer. Why? IE is tightly integrated with Windows itself and has lots of marginally useful, but powerful bells and whistles. The combination opens your computer up to all kinds of dirty tricks. You can tame IE though. If you insist on using IE for any but a few sites that you absolutely trust read on: Tight Internet Explorer settings won't improve
your security unless you respond appropriately
to any "prompt" dialog boxes that
pop up. For example, if the prompt asks if
you want to allow an ActiveX control to run,
decide if you completely trust the site before
you click OK (usually you can view the site
even if you don't.
Unfortunately, if you use these settings, you'll be bugged with a bunch of promts that ask if it's OK to run scripts. Some people take the risk and Enable active scripting. I normally use IE for just a few sites that won't work otherwise. I add these sites to my "Trusted Sites Zone" to stop the chatter. It's easy to do that "on the fly." Access security settings in Internet Explorer by clicking Tools ("View" in earlier versions of IE) > Internet Options > Security (tab) > click the "Custom Level" button. Use the recommended settings listed below. (You may not find all these options, just set the ones you do have.)
Privacy settingsPrivacy is totally different from security. Privacy is mostly controlled by cookie settings. Cookies are not a significant threat to security. Internet Explorer 6.0 does offer privacy (cookie) settings as well as security settings. To get there click Tools > Internet Options > Privacy. I have my privacy set to "Medium High". I'd recommend at least "Medium". |
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Mozilla security settingsMozilla is cleaner and quite a bit faster than Internet Explorer. Tabbed browsing (window-in-window), excellent security, and superb popup blocking are it's other major advantages. Mozilla also remembers passwords [note] for you. Mozilla is a great browser, eh? It's easier to set up Mozilla for good security, and it's better behaved than Internet Explorer. One reason is that Mozilla does not run ActiveX pluging. Here's my setup process for Mozilla security:1. I've made Mozilla my default browser, because I don't want Internet Explorer to open without warning. The option to make it your default browser should be on the first page when you click Edit > Preferrences... 2. Continuing with Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security (click the "+")
3. Continuing with Edit > Preferences > Advanced > (click the "+")
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Resourceshttp://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/btw/ie/ie-opts.htm The University of Illinois provides a mother-load of advice on privacy and securtiy settings for Internet Explorer.http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-09-07.htm#3 Fred Langa gives good advice on how to set your Internet settings under Make It Stop! (Comet Cursor And Its Ilk, That Is.) http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/settings.asp -- Microsoft checklist for security settings http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/ie6/ -- an illustrated alternative checklist |
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