Dynamic Security and Protected Mode Because threats can come from any place at any time, Internet Explorer has
Dynamic Security and Protected Mode Because threats can come from any place at any time, Internet Explorer has
added several features to protect your system. Dynamic Security options for Internet Explorer 8.0 offer multiple security features to defend your computer against malware and data theft. The Security Status Bar keeps you notified of the website security and privacy settings by using color-coded notifications next to the address bar. Some of these features include
. Address Bar turns green to indicate website bearing new High Assurance certificates, indicating the site owner has completed extensive identity verification checks.
. Phishing Filter notifications, certificate names, and the gold padlock icon are now also adjacent to the address bar for better visibility.
. Certificate and privacy detail information can easily be displayed with a single click on the Security Status Bar.
. The Address Bar is displayed to the user for every window, whether it’s a pop-up or standard window, which helps to block malicious sites from emulating trusted sites.
. To help protect you against phishing sites, Internet Explorer warns you when visiting potential or known fraudulent sites and blocks the site if appropriate. The opt-in filter is updated several times per hour with the latest security information from Microsoft and several industry partners.
. International Domain Name Anti-Spoofing notifies you when visually similar characters in the URL are not expressed in the same language.
Features of Internet Explorer 8.0
To protect your system even further, Internet Explorer includes the following features:
. ActiveX Opt-in disables nearly all pre-installed ActiveX controls to pre- vent potentially vulnerable controls from being exposed to attack. You can easily enable or disable ActiveX controls as needed through the Information Bar and the Add-on Manager.
. Cross-Domain Barriers limits scripts on webpages from interacting with content from other domains or windows. This enhanced safeguard helps to protect against malicious software by limiting the potential for mali- cious websites to manipulate flaws in other websites or cause you to download undesired content or software.
If Internet Explorer is still using its original settings, you see the Information bar in the following circumstances:
. If a website tries to install an ActiveX control on your computer or run an ActiveX control in an unsafe manner.
. If a website tries to open a pop-up window. . If a website tries to download a file to your computer. . If a website tries to run active content on your computer. . If your security settings are below recommended levels. . If you access an intranet webpage, but have not turned on intranet
address checking. . If you started Internet Explorer with add-ons disabled. . If you need to install an updated ActiveX control or add-on program. . The webpage address can be displayed with native language letters or
symbols, but you don’t have the language installed. When you see a message in the Information bar, click the message to see
more information or to take action. To stop the information bar from blocking file and software downloads, do
the following:
1. Click to open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Tools button and then click Internet Options.
3. Click the Security tab and then click Custom level.
CHAPTER 13: Working with Internet Explorer 8.0
4. Do one or both of the following: . To turn off the Information bar for file downloads, scroll to the
Downloads section of the list and then, under Automatic prompting for file downloads, click Enable.
. To turn off the Information bar for ActiveX controls, scroll to the ActiveX controls and plug-ins section of the list and then, under Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls, click Enable.
5. Click OK, click Yes to confirm that you want to make the change, and then click OK again.
Table 13.1 lists some of the more common messages that might appear in the Information bar, along with a description of what each message means.
TABLE 13.1 Common Messages Found in Internet Explorer 8.0
Message
What It Means
To help protect your security, The webpage tried to install an Active X control Internet Explorer stopped this
and Internet Explorer blocked it. If you want to site from installing an ActiveX
install the ActiveX control and you trust the control on your computer. Click
publisher of the ActiveX control, right-click the here for options.
information and select Install Software.
Pop-up blocked. To see this Pop-up Blocker has blocked a pop-up window. pop-up or additional options,
You can turn Pop-up Blocker off or allow pop-ups click here.
temporarily by clicking the Information bar. This website is using a scripted
Internet Explorer has blocked a website that tried window to ask you for
to display a separate window such as a login information. If you trust this
screen in an attempt to gather confidential website, click here to allow
information. If you trust the website, click the scripted windows.
Information bar and click select Temporarily Allow Scripted Windows or Allow websites to prompt for information using scripted windows customer security setting.
To help protect your security, A webpage tried to download a file that you might Internet Explorer blocked this site
not have requested. If you want to download the from downloading files to your
file, click the Information bar and then click computer. Click here for options.
Download File.
Your security settings do not The website tried to install an ActiveX control but allow websites to use ActiveX
your security settings did not allow it. This is controls installed on your
caused when a website is listed in the Restricted computer. This page may not
Site list. If you trust the site, remove the site from display correctly. Click here
the Restricted site. If the problem still exists, for options.
try adding the site to the Trusted sites list.
Features of Internet Explorer 8.0
TABLE 13.1 Continued
Message
What It Means
Internet Explorer has blocked this A website tried to access an ActiveX control on site from using an ActiveX control
your computer without your permission. in an unsafe manner. As a result, this page may not display correctly.
Internet Explorer’s protected mode is a feature that makes it more difficult for malicious software to be installed on your computer. In addition, it enables users to install wanted software when they are logged in as a standard user instead of an administrator. Protected mode is turned on by default and an icon appears on the status bar to let you know that it’s running. When you try to install software, protected mode warns you when webpages try to install software or if a software program runs outside of protected mode. If you trust the program and want to allow it to run on any website, select the Always allow websites to use this program to open web content checkbox.