Security on the Internet: Overview

Controlling Java™ access

Displaying security alerts

Controlling cookie downloads

Deleting a cookie

Disabling or enabling a cookie

Viewing cookie information

Downloading ActiveX Controls

Using the Internet Ratings system

Exporting ratings settings to an application that supports PICS rules

Using a ratings bureau

Security on the Internet: Overview

The Internet works by sending information from computer to computer until the information reaches its destination. So, when data is sent from point A to point B, every computer in between has an opportunity to look at what's being sent. This can pose a security problem.

For example, suppose you are looking at a clothing catalog on the World Wide Web, and you decide to buy a shirt. This requires that you type certain facts into an order form, including your credit-card number. You know the clothing company in question is reputable, so you type in your information, and then send the completed form. Your information passes from computer to computer on its way to the clothing company. Unfortunately, one of the computers in between has been infiltrated by criminals who watch the data passing through that computer until they see something interesting—such as your credit-card number.

How often does something like this happen? It's hard to say, but the important thing is, it's technically possible. And, as the Internet grows, it's bound to happen more and more.

How does Microsoft Internet Explorer help to protect you and your data? Many Internet sites are equipped to prevent unauthorized individuals from seeing the data sent to or from those sites. These are called "secure" sites. Because Internet Explorer supports the security protocols used by secure sites, you can send information to a secure site with safety and confidence. (When you are viewing a page from a secure site, Internet Explorer displays a lock icon on the status bar.)

Related Topic
Displaying security alerts

To control Java access

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Java.
3. Select the Enable Java check box.
4. Choose a Java Virtual Machine from the menu.
5. From the Byte Code Verification menu, choose one of the following

   Don't Check Code	The lowest form of verification. Neither byte code on your local drive nor on the network is inspected.
   Check Remote Code	Only applets coming from the network are inspected. Any byte code that previously has been previously installed on your local drive will not be verified.
   Check All Code	The highest form of verification. Byte code coming from both your local drive and the network is inspected.

6. From the Network Access menu, choose one of the following.

   No Network Access	High-level security. After an applet is downloaded, it cannot access any servers on the Internet.
   Applet Host Access	Medium-level security: After an applet is downloaded, it can send and receive information only from the server from which it was downloaded.
   Unrestricted Access	Low-level security. Java applets can send and receive information to any server on the Internet.

7. To prevent Java applets from reading, creating, or modifying files on your local hard disk, select the Restrict Access To Non-Java Class Files check box. When this box is selected, Java applets have access only to files essential to the program.
8. Select the Alert on Exception check box if you want a warning message to appear when an error occurs.
9. Select the Log Java Output check box if you want the Java output to be stored in the Java messages log.
10. Select the Log Java Exceptions check box if you want Java errors to be stored in the Java messages log.
11. Select the Load Java After Document Is Finished check box if you want the Java applet to be downloaded only after the Web page is downloaded.

Notes

• Downloading Java applets may take longer on slow modems. If you are not interested in Java applets, you can improve your computer's performance by disabling Java. Java is disabled by default.
• Byte code is the language in which Java applets are delivered to your browser.

Related Topics
Downloading Java applets
Glossary (Java)
Viewing the Java messages log

To display security alerts

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Security.
3. Select the check boxes that correspond to the alerts you want to see.

• Alerts can be a useful reminder that you are sending sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, over the Internet.
• A secure site is indicated by a lock icon on the status bar at the bottom of the browser window. If you do not see the status bar, choose Status Bar from the View menu.

To control cookie downloads

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Receiving Files, click Cookies.
3. From the When Receiving Cookies menu, choose a setting.

Related Topics
Deleting a cookie
Enabling and disabling a cookie
Glossary (cookies)
New features: controlling cookie downloads
Viewing cookie information

To delete a cookie

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Receiving Files, click Cookies.
3. In the list, select the cookie you want to delete.
4. Click Delete.
   The next time you visit the site whose cookie you deleted, a new cookie will be downloaded.

To disable or enable a cookie

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Receiving Files, click Cookies.
3. In the list, select the cookie whose setting you want to change.
4. Click Enable/Disable.
   The actual text on the button will change depending on the state of the cookie that you have selected.

To view cookie information

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Receiving Files, click Cookies.
3. In the list, select the cookie whose information you want to view.
4. Click View.

To download ActiveX Controls

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Web Content.
3. Select the Enable ActiveX check box.

To use the Internet Ratings system

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
3. Click Enabled.
4. If you have never set Internet ratings, click Change Password.
5. Type a new password. By default, no password is provided.
6. Confirm your new password by typing it again.
7. Choose rating levels for violence, sex, nudity, and language. A description of the selected level is provided.

Tips

• Remember your password. You will need to type it any time you change the Ratings settings.
• By default, Internet Explorer uses the rating system provided by the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC). For more information about RSAC see http://www.rsac.org/. (Note that this link points to a site that is not under the control of Microsoft. Please read our disclaimer.)
• The Options button provides additional Internet rating controls. For example, you can determine whether unrated sites can be viewed.
• You can download other rating services and use them instead of RSAC. To do so, click Add Service in the dialog box, and locate the new service.

To export ratings settings to an application that supports PICS rules

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
3. Click Options.
4. In the Ratings Export area, click Export Ratings.
5. Locate where you want the file saved.

To use a ratings bureau

1. On the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Ratings.
3. Click Options.
4. In the Ratings Bureau box, type the address of the ratings bureau you want to use.

• Using a ratings bureau can slow down Internet access time.