I'm one of those odd sort of people who doesn't want malware or viri on my system. To this end I have produced a "links" icon in my IE which takes me directly to the Security tab. I normally visit websites on Full security, only lowering it to default when a website fails to work and I particularly wish to visit it. What I can't understand is why 30% of websites work quite nicely on full security (pictures, links and so forth) but the other 70% don't. I'm probably missing some obvious point but perhaps someone can explain why "all" websites cannot be so designed that they work on full security. For example, is script essential for some reason or other on certain websites? Apologies in advance for my ignorance but it just "seems" like I am having to lower my security to default to meet the whims of quite normal and legitimate websites without any obvious advantage. Please educate me. Derek.W

"I'm one of those odd sort of people who doesn't want malware or viri on my system" That does not make you odd, that makes you normal. I do not know of any normal person that desires to have viruses or malware on their PC's. While normal does scare me I am not odd but anywho. Why do you subject yourself to such extreme measures? Do you have a big fence around your house with a dog running around in it? Do you have a home alarm and many locks and do you ever dare to open your windows and walk away for a moment into another room? Do you wear a 5 point seat belt and a helmet when you drive? I keep my security settings at a custom level but they are far from being at the highest. I do sit behind a hardware firewall and I use XP's built in firewall as well. I run NAV 2003, POP-UP Cop and use Spyware Blaster and I can visit any web site on the internet and not worry about malicious code or scripts running on my system. The big reason I can do a lot of this is not because of my security settings but because of Pop-Up Cop. It gives me a great deal of control over what runs and does not run on a web page. If you need some advice on how to lock down your PC so you can surf web sites and enjoy the internet just ask but keeping tight IE security settings is not the best answer. KTTD Though I walk through the valley of Microsoft, I shall fear no OS for skills are with me

Thx Kevin No dogs or fences but a mix of various malware proggies, firewall, AV etc. OK let's put it another way. What is the advantage I get from websites that only run by using default security? Whenever I've gone onto them I've found they add nothing that other websites cannot provide yet run fine on Full Security. I'm kinda thinking that if all websites could be run on Full Security (someone might be able to tell my why not) then there would be less nasties around, many of which can be passed on. The only exceptions I can think of are those, like this site, which require cookies to save keep logging in. These can be looked after using Trusted Sites, set on what MS call "default" security, as can other favorite sites. Derek.W

Hi Derek, I have some links that I think will interest you. These links lead you straight to a well-written and easy to understand articles about the various security precautions that everyone should know. Just copy and paste the respective http url to your browser and go there. 1. How to surf the Internet more safely with Internet Explorer (this one answer your questions regarding IE security zones) http://www.infinisource.com/techfiles/surf-safe.html 2. Safe at Any Speed: How To Stay Safe Online if You Use High-Speed Internet Access http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/safeonline.htm 3. So how did I get infected in the first place - by by Tony Klein - a well-known Internet security advisor http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=3051 4. The Parasite Fight - Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm Theres a lot more out there but for now I believe the above 4 are more than enough. Happy Computing

Hi again, I should have included the another good link first mentioned by Abnormal in message # 12077, Reply No. 15. It's about IE-SPYAD - Restricted Sites List for Internet Explorer. Abnormal recommended a user to get this into the IE restricted site zone to avoid future headaches. http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

Well, OK I suppose I was just bleating about the fact that websites could do more for us if they stopped piling on pointless gimmicks for which we have to use default security to use their websites. For that matter I think ISP's could help more too. I can't say too much about MS because it is my choice to stay with an outdated OS. If they all got their act together maybe we could manage with less effort & programs to prevent being hacked because we could then stay set at full security and be a good a bit safer. So I was somewhat off-topic I guess. Just the same thanks for your inputs. I will most definitey save this webpage and pursue everything that XPUser has pointed me to. Several I know about and have already taken on board. There are others that I've obviously missed, so these are of particular interest. Thanks again Derek.W

Hi Derek, U're welcome :-) "I can't say too much about MS because it is my choice to stay with an outdated OS." No one considered Windows 98 SE to be an "outdated OS." Rest assured that Microsoft will continue to provide updated security patches, etc. for the OS for another 2 years or so. Have a good evening :-)