EVALUATING YOUR WEB BROWSER'S
SECURITY SETTINGS
Why are security settings for web browsers important?
Your web browser is your primary connection to the rest of the internet, and
multiple applications may rely on your browser, or elements within your
browser, to function. This makes the security settings within your browser
even more important. Many web applications try to enhance your browsing
experience by enabling different types of functionality, but this functionality
might be unnecessary and may leave you susceptible to being attacked. The
safest policy is to disable the majority of those features unless you decide
they are necessary. If you determine that a site is trustworthy, you can choose
to enable the functionality temporarily and then disable it once you are
finished visiting the site.
Where can you find the settings?
Each web browser is different, so you may have to look around. For example,
in Internet Explorer, you can find them by clicking Tools on your menu bar,
selecting Internet Options..., choosing the Security tab, and clicking the
Custom Level... button. However, in Firefox, you click Tools on the menu bar
and select Options.... Click the Content, Privacy, and Security tabs to
explore the basic security options. Browsers have different security options
Check the security settings in your web browser to make sure they are at an
appropriate level. While increasing your security may affect the functionality of
some web sites, it could prevent you from being attacked.
and configurations, so familiarize yourself with the menu options, check the
help feature, or refer to the vendor's web site.
While every application has settings that are selected by default, you may
discover that your browser also has predefined security levels that you can
select. For example, Internet Explorer offers custom settings that allow you to
select a particular level of security; features are enabled or disabled based on
your selection. Even wi