Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

Protecting Your Computer While Browsing

|

221

The Internet security indicator specifies the current security zone and mode that

Internet Explorer is using. Internet Explorer has separate security zones for Internet,

Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites. When accessing sites in the Inter-

net zone, Internet Explorer uses Protected Mode by default.

The View Magnifier icon shows the current Zoom setting. If you click the option

button to the right of this icon, you can use Zoom settings to shrink or expand the

textual and graphical contents of a web page. Shrink the page by selecting a zoom

size smaller than 100 percent. Expand the page by selecting a zoom size larger than

100 percent.

Protecting Your Computer While Browsing

When you are browsing the Internet, Internet Explorer 7 runs in Protected Mode.

This isolates it from other applications in the operating system and prevents add-ons

from writing content in any location beyond temporary Internet file folders without

explicit user consent. By isolating Internet Explorer from other applications and

restricting write locations, Windows Vista prevents many types of malicious soft-

ware from exploiting vulnerabilities on your computer. Protected Mode also restricts

the way domains, web addresses, and security zones are used.

While Protected Mode is a key component in Internet Explorer’s new comprehen-

sive safety and security suite, many other safety and security features work together

to protect your computer from malicious software. These additional security fea-

tures include a pop-up blocker and a phishing filter. They also include privacy and

content settings.

Viewing and Managing Add-Ons

Protected Mode limits the ActiveX controls and other add-ons that can run in Inter-

net Explorer. Protected Mode also gives you better control over the add-ons that

are installed and used by allowing you to view and manage add-ons in these unique

categories:

Add-ons that have been used in Internet Explorer

Lists all the add-ons that Internet Explorer has used since you installed your

computer or the latest version of Internet Explorer

Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer

Lists the add-ons that Internet Explorer is currently using

Add-ons that run without requiring permission

Lists the add-ons configured for use on your computer

Downloaded ActiveX controls (32-bit)

Lists the add-ons you’ve downloaded from the Internet and configured for use

222

|

Chapter 7: Navigating the Web with Internet Explorer 7

In the “Add-ons that run without requiring permission” list, you’ll find default add-

ons that are included with Internet Explorer or that you’ve downloaded through

updates from Microsoft, as well as add-ons that you have installed and granted per-

mission to run. For example, if you downloaded the ActiveX control for Flash and

granted run permission to this control, you’ll see it on the “Add-ons that run with-

out requiring permission” list and the “Downloaded ActiveX controls (32-bit)” list.

Although you can enable or disable any ActiveX controls and other add-ons, you can

only delete ActiveX controls and other add-ons that you’ve downloaded.

You can view and manage ActiveX controls and other add-ons by completing the fol-

lowing steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools

➝ Manage Add-ons ➝ Enable or Disable Add-ons.

2. In the Show drop-down list, select the add-on category you want to view or

manage (see Figure 7-14).

Figure 7-14. Viewing and managing browser add-ons