Internet Options for All Users
- Three of the most popular Internet browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. Windows-based machines come with Internet Explorer installed. Firefox and Chrome are open source browsers, meaning they are built by communities and are free to use. All three of these browsers provide access to modern Internet applications such as banking, games and social networking. Choosing the best browser for you may depend on applications and add-ons. Some add-ons are available only for a specific browser, so checking a particular add-on's system requirements may help you decide on a browser. Also, online students may need Internet Explorer, as Chrome and Firefox aren't completely compatible with Blackboard -- as of May 2011 (see Reference 1).
- The security settings of a browser are crucial to the security of your computer, but if set wrong they can also get in your way. For example, settings involving secure sockets layer (SSL) modes can prevent or enable users to use online banking, encrypted email and other secure pages on the Internet. Many browsers have practical default settings for SSL and other security features, but these settings should still at least be reviewed by the user. To access security options click "Tools" and then "Internet Options" in Internet Explorer. Click the "Security" tab from the upper menu. Sites can be added to the "Trusted" list from this menu, allowing specific sites to read or write to your computer's "Temporary Internet Files" folder.
- Browsers keep a log, or history, of files they access on the Internet. One example of this is cookies. Cookies are small files used by websites to store information on your computer. This information is used to prevent redundant logins, store preference information and gather data from your session. Cookies and other history files in your browser sometimes also keep track of pages you go to, and allow advertising companies to access basic information about your Web history. Setting your browser to not accept cookies is possible, but this will prevent many websites from loading on your computer.
- Toolbars are menus that appear at the top of your browser. They can be turned on or off, and even modified. Internet Explorer users can toggle toolbar options from the upper menu in Internet Explorer, under the "View" tab. Specific buttons and functions can be altered in the "Internet Options" menu, under "Toolbars." Home buttons can be added to the toolbars, and bookmarks can be set to show up near the URL bar. You can also install third-party toolbars in most browsers.