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Internet Explorer's Security Zones - Part 3

Internet Explorer's Security Zones, Part 3 of 4

Internet Explorer provides the ability to segregate the Internet into zones, permitting you to assign a Web site to a zone with a security level of your choosing. This week, in Part 3 of this 4-part series, we'll take a look at the Restricted Sites zone, but first a quick recap:

Adjusting Security Zone settings in Internet Explorer is accomplished through its Internet Options window. From within Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options > Security tab. At the top of the Security tab, under "Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings," is a box displaying icons for the four security zones: Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and this week’s focus, Restricted Sites.

Restricted Sites

Following the same steps we reviewed with Trusted Sites in last week's issue (Part 2 of this series), move the slider bar to the top for a High security level for Restricted Sites. You can add sites that you don't trust to the Restricted Sites zone in the same way you add sites that you do trust to the Trusted Sites zone.

After adding a site to the Restricted Sites zone, you may encounter a warning stating that the page will not display properly with your current security settings. Just click OK if you wish to move beyond the warning. Caution: Some sites will not permit access unless you click OK and agree to override your security settings. Think before you click. If you override your security settings, some nasty Web-based bug could slither onto your computer, so stop and think about the Web site and your level of confidence in it before circumventing your current security settings.



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Interactive enhancements, animations, etc., may be necessary for portions of a Web site to function properly, but these types of enhancements are generally not necessary for an entire Web site. Caution -- yes, again with the caution: Any Web site that requires you to lower your security settings is worth viewing with suspicion. When it comes to Web sites that have the potential to adversely impact your computer, "guilty until proven innocent" is a healthy mindset to maintain.

By holding Internet Explorer hostage until you lower your security settings, a site is forcing you to compromise your browser’s security. If you're not comfortable lowering security, press the Esc button or use the Ctrl + Alt + Del function to bail out. Bailing out is much better than spending hours trying to get rid of a gremlin that was installed on your system because you trusted a site and lowered security.

Next up, in this four-part series' dramatic conclusion, we'll take a look at IE's Internet Zone. You won't want to miss it!

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