An antivirus program isn´t the only thing you´ll need to make sure your computer is secure while you browse the Internet. Making sure that your browser´s security settings are in order is one of the first things you should do before going online. This article takes a look at the Internet security settings in the Internet Explorer browser.

You should never just assume that the default Internet security settings of a particular browser are going to keep you protected. There is a seemingly endless number of ways that you can pick up a virus or another type of malware on the Internet, so it’s always a good idea to be as prepared as possible. The Internet Explorer Web browser gives users the ability to tweak the default Internet security settings to match their needs. You can make any changes you want in just a few quick steps.

Step 1

Open a new instance of the Internet Explorer Web browser on your computer.

Step 2

Open the “Tools” menu from the top of Internet Explorer. Click the option labeled “Internet Options” to load a new window. Note that you can also access the same screen by selecting the icon labeled “Internet Options” in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel.

Step 3

Click the tab labeled “Security.” Use the vertical slider bar to select a “Security Level” for your browser. By default, the security level will be set to “Medium-high.” You will be prompted before you download any content and Internet Explorer will not download unsigned ActiveX controls. Moving the slider upwards to the level “High” puts maximum security safeguards in place, while moving the slider downwards to the level “Medium” removes a majority of the safeguards of the other levels.

Step 4

Click the button labeled “Restricted Sites” at the top of the page. Click the button labeled “Sites” that appears. Use the window that opens to add the URL addresses of any site that you want to have Internet Explorer restrict access to. Your security level will switch to “High” anytime your computer tries to access one of the sites that you specify.

Step 5

Click the button labeled “Custom Level” to specify your own security settings level. You can choose exactly how the Internet Explorer handles content like loose XAML, XAML browser applications, XPS documents and more. If you open the window and don’t have experience with any of the listed terms it is recommended that you do not change anything in this screen. Doing so could potentially make it more difficult for you to use the Internet Explorer browser.