Lock Down Internet Explorer

Lock Down Internet Explorer

The first line of defense to protect yourself is to not use Internet Explorer. If you just insist then harden the browser to help protect your system. Start by changing the Internet Options security as follows:

Click on the Tools menu
From the dropdown list select Internet Options...
Click on the Security tab
Click on the Internet icon
Click on the Custom Level... button
In the ActiveX controls and plug-ins area,
- Prompt for Download signed ActiveX controls
- Disable Download unsigned ActiveX controls
- Disable ActiveX controls not marked as safe
- prompt for ActiveX controls marked safe and signed

Keep your operating system updated to the latest critical security updates and pay special attention to the updates for Internet Explorer. Even if you do not use IE keep it updated. Since it is an integral part of the operating system it has known flaws that can cause damage regardless of whether the browser is being used.

Web sites also routinely employ cookies, small text files that identify you to the site and/or track your browsing activities. IE automatically handles cookies, but it's easy to change some settings to exercise more control over cookies.

Open IE's Tools menu, click Internet Options, choose the Privacy tab, and click the Advanced button. Select the Override Automatic Cookie Handling checkbox and then opt to Accept, Block, or Prompt for cookies by selecting the appropriate option. For example, if you choose to block third-party cookies, IE will then refuse any cookies sent from other Web sites. As another example, if you want to prompt for first-party cookies, IE will ask for permission before sending cookies to any Web site. Click OK to save your changes.

For added security, it's a good idea to delete any cookies that might reside on your system. Open the Tools menu, click Internet Options, choose the General tab, and click the Delete Cookies button in the Temporary Internet Files area.

If you have trouble viewing your favorite Web sites, just repeat the directions we described in previous paragraphs, but select Prompt (rather than Disable) for each feature. That way, you can accept cookies, ActiveX controls, and scripts related to the sites you visit regularly but prohibit those items from your system for new or unknown Web sites.