Subscribe to this blogDo you suffer from browseritis insecurius (a fear of browser security leaks)? Instead of switching to something unfamiliar like Firefox or Opera, beef up Internet Explorer with my tips and tools.
The Hassle:
The Fix: You could turn off your PC and dig out your old typewriter. Nope, I didn't think you'd buy that. Using an anti-spyware program is obviously a must; I use Sunbelt's $20 CounterSpy, a PC World Class winner (a trial version is available here. But adding a layer or two of unobtrusive security makes sense. Here are three tricks I rely on.
First, I use a widely misunderstood IE feature--the "Restricted sites" zone. Adding a site to this zone raises the browser's security settings. (Check it out in IE by clicking Tools, Internet Options, Security.) If you add a Web site to the "Restricted sites" zone, IE disables ActiveX, scripting, and Java applets for that site. That way, if you head to a page on the specified site, you'll be protected from, say, an attempted drive-by spyware attack.
But manually adding sites to the Restricted zone is a huge pain. JavaCool's free SpywareBlaster automatically adds a lengthy list of dangerous addresses to IE's Restricted sites. SpywareBlaster is compatible with AOL's browser; it also works with current versions of the Netscape, Firefox, and Mozilla browsers. Its most recent iteration is SpywareBlaster 3.4.
Next, grab a copy of Globi's Klik Safe, a free Internet Explorer add-on. When you are browsing in unfamiliar territory at a spot that may not be on SpywareBlaster's list yet, use Klik Safe for protection. The tool enables you to switch IE's security settings immediately from medium to high (saving you a bunch of manual steps) to protect you from ActiveX and JavaScript threats. And when you travel to a site that you're certain is safe--for instance, Microsoft's Update page--use Klik Safe to add the site to Internet Explorer's Trusted Zone and thereby ensure that ActiveX works correctly.
Safety-First File Viewing
The Hassle: It seems like every day I read about a brand-new virus. I'm getting worried and have stopped opening zipped files and images. Am I too paranoid?
The Fix: What Freud said about his cigar holds true here: Sometimes an image is just an image. But it's wise to be suspicious. Even if you update your antivirus program regularly, Trojan horses and viruses embedded in images can sneak through. Novatix's RedWall file-viewing utility guards against threats even if your antivirus software isn't updated. RedWall lets you view files in a quarantined, no-risk state. It integrates with Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Outlook Express, and it works with Eudora and most other e-mail applications. No doubt RedWall is a little pricey at $50. But it can view approximately 200 file types, including Office documents, image files, and even videos. You can download a trial version here.
When I open IE, the silly thing may open full-screen, minimized, or as a postage-stamp-size window. Here's how to stop this dopey behavior. Open IE, hold down the <Shift> key, and click a link. A new IE window will open. Set the position and size of the new window, but don't maximize it. Now switch back to the first IE window, close it, and close the second IE window. If IE still won't behave, use IE New Window Maximizer; this free utility makes new IE windows open maximized, uses a hot key to hide and close IE windows, and closes pop-up windows.
Contributing Editor Steve Bass is the author of PC Annoyances, published by O'Reilly. Contact him at hasslefreepc@pcworld.com.
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