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Tips for improving Internet Explorer Security
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There is no question that Internet Explorer is the most popular web browser in the world, but with great popularity comes great responsibility. Since one program is used by approximately 75 percent of the world to browse the web, you are forced to deal with the majority of the world’s hackers who are all trying to break down your defenses. Luckily, there are certain things you can do to improve the security of Internet Explorer so you don’t fall victim to the same problems that have already infected millions of computers already.
These days, most Windows Vista systems are set to automatically download updates from the Microsoft website, but for those that aren’t and for those folks still running Windows XP, you need to make a weekly pilgrimage to the Microsoft website via the “Windows Update” feature to download the latest updates that can keep you and your computer safe. As quickly as hackers can discover and exploit a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer, there are teams of Microsoft technicians working hard to close that loophole. It is only with regular updates that you are able to put those fixes to good use. Good Internet Explorer security means staying on top of security updates at all costs.
Next, you can help improve Internet Explorer security by watching where you surf. Part of the fun of the Internet is exploring new websites, but some websites are like traps that wait for Internet Explorer browsers to visit them so that they can try to infiltrate your machine. Your virus protection software should alert you if a website attempts to access your computer or change any of your settings. Your machine may lock up or freeze so that you can’t close the browser window. Once you regain control, run an immediate virus scan and never revisit that website. Many adult websites and hacker/peer-to-peer sharing websites feature these types of traps.
One of the most popular features in web browsers is the ability to add on toolbars and extra features that run along side the stand alone browser. As useful as these programs can be, they are often doorways for other programs to install themselves on your machine. You can download one toolbar and before you know it, you have a dozen different bars installed and you can’t see a thing. If you want to install a toolbar to give Internet Explorer extra functionality, make sure you do some research first to find out which toolbars live up to the hype and which ones are simply gateways to viruses and Trojans. You would be surprised how much you can improve Internet Explorer security by simply watching what add ons you use.
Finally, you can improve Internet Explorer security by simply getting to know the usual behavior of your browser. If you suddenly notice that web pages are taking significantly longer to load than they did a little bit ago, something might be wrong. Get to know what the usual pop up windows that come with your browser look like, so when a website attempts to get you to click on a box, you’ll know if you should or not. When it comes to Internet Explorer security, a good portion of the battle is common sense and not falling for traps set by hackers.
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> Antivirus Software 
