Improving Your Privacy With Internet Explorer
07/04/2009
All of us know about the benefits of the internet in today's techno-savvy world. We cannot do without the internet, but it's our right to protect our privacy and reveal only as much information as we want to. When we are using Internet Explorer (IE) for browsing the internet, we must take some simple measures to ensure our privacy on the internet. As adults, we might be careful enough while browsing, but for children you have to be extra careful. Inform your child about identity theft, web-stalking and harms to your computer if they happen to fall prey to the malicious people who are making wrong use of the internet.
You can decide what sites your child can visit and where he/she should not venture. If a site is asking too much personal information and you don't agree with its privacy policy, you can do some research and come up with a similar site which is not demanding personal information.
Other steps you can take to ensure your and your child's privacy while using Internet explorer (IE) are:
-You can make use of software to block unwanted content on your computer. You can install the Windows Vista parental control, X-box parental control and Windows live one care family security software by Microsoft.
-On Windows Vista and Windows XP, you can create different user accounts for members of your family. Give limited access and restricted control to children; you can have the administrator's account where you can go through all users' accounts.
-You can set IE security settings to enhance privacy on the internet. IE helps you protect your privacy by providing features that help control the cookies and how websites track your activities.
-To enhance or change your security level, go to Tools menu, click "Internet Options". Click the Security tab and then click the zone you want to change the security level. Finally use the slider to set the security level to High, medium, low etc., and then click Ok.
You can block chatting from unknown persons by using different IE tools. On Windows Messenger, you can do as follows:
-Click Tools, select Options and choose Privacy Tab. Then add your known contacts to "Allow" list and Block all others.
-Never talk to strangers over the internet, do not send photos to unknown people. Even while you are talking to a known person, avoid revealing personal information like your address, credit card number, bank account number or social security number on the web.
-While making online transactions using your credit card make sure the site offers secure transactions. IE has encryption devices which help in keeping your online transactions safe, yet it's advisable to give out this information only on familiar or reputed sites.
A Word About Cookies:
As you must know, cookies are text programs that contain information regarding your computer's identity. Many websites use cookies to track their traffic flow. They attach cookies to your computer to get information about the pages you have visited and how much time you spent. As an individual, you cannot be recognized, but your computer terminal will be identified by the cookies. Some sites might use this personal information without your consent.
You can create customized settings in IE to allow cookies by those websites that you consider safe, otherwise you have the option to say No. Go to the Tools menu, click "Internet Options". Click the Security tab and then click the zone you want to change the security level. Under Cookies, click the option you want, finally click Ok.
A judicial and careful use of Internet Explorer will ensure that you have more privacy on the internet. By making good use of the various security and privacy settings provided with IE you will have a pleasant and secured time on the internet.
Download Privacy Controls now and protect your PC from snoops!