Adjust Browser Settings
Browsers allow users to find and read websites on the Internet. There are several browsers available with different options. Browsers use these options to help protect a user's privacy and computer. Many browsers have their settings under the same or similar tabs. This article will tell you how to adjust browser settings.
Contents
Steps
Internet Explorer 7 and 8 Security Settings
- Open Internet Explorer
- Click on "Tools" on the Menu bar. Scroll down and select "Internet Options."
- Click on the "Security" tab. You will be able to customize security settings.
- Click on the "Security Zone" that you want to customize. You can add websites to a zone by typing in the web address and clicking "add this website to the zone."
- You can also remove a website from a zone by clicking "Sites" and selecting the website you want to remove. Click the "Remove" button to confirm your choice.
Internet Explorer 7 and 8 Privacy Settings
- Follow steps 1 and 2 in the previous section of the article except select the "Privacy" tab instead of "Security."
- Select the setting you want to change. You can adjust your browser's cookie handling by changing the standard selector for all cookies.
- You can also choose your cookie handling by website or cookie type. These options can be found by selecting the "Sites" tab or the "Advanced" tab.
- Click "Sites" to allow or block cookies from specific sites.
- Click "Allow" or "Block" and then "OK" to complete your changes.
- Click "Advanced" and check "override automatic cookie handling."
- Choose your desired settings for the different types of cookies.
- Turn on or off your popup blocker. This option is available under the "Cookies" portion of the "Privacy" tab.
- Click Settings
- Then select your "blocking level" at the bottom of the popup window.
- You can also choose to allow popups by specific websites by typing in the web address and clicking the "Add" button.
Other Internet Explorer 7 & 8 Settings
- Select the tab of the settings you want to change. You can choose from General, Content, Connections, Programs and Advanced.
- You can change the browser's appearance, select your homepage and default programs and delete browsing history.
- You can also modify other Explorer settings with the "Advanced" tab.
Firefox (all)
- Open Firefox
- Click on "Tools" on the Menu bar. Scroll down and select "Options."
- A window will open that will contain tabs that are similar to the ones in Internet Explorer.
- Click on the "General" tab to select your default homepage, set download options and manage your "add-on" programs.
- Manage your tab settings under "Tab" in the "Options" window. You can choose to open windows in tabs or choose options to manage multiple tabs in this window.
- Select the "Content" tab to modify how webpages are displayed, including the preferred language and the appearance of webpages.
- Click on "Privacy" and the "Security" tabs to manage privacy and security settings such as cookie and popup handling.
- Select the "Application" tab to manage how Firefox handles different types of files such as PDF files or music files.
- Firefox can use applications or plug-ins to open and use different file types. You can also choose to have Firefox save the file to your computer.
- Use the "Advanced" tab to modify connection settings and advanced browser settings such as "auto-scrolling." This tab also allows you to control site encryption settings.
Safari
- Open Safari
- Click on the Gear and select "Block Pop-up Windows." You can use this option to turn these settings on and off.
- Click on the Gear again and select "Preferences."
- Click on the "General" tab to choose your homepage and select options for downloading files.
- Choose the "Appearance" tab to select what you want Safari to look like. Options such as font and size can be found under this tab.
- Select the "Autofill" tab to select which forms you want Safari to fill out for you. You can also choose not to use this tab.
- Choose the "Security" tab to adjust plug-in features, cookie handling and parental controls.
Warnings
- The Department of Homeland Security advises Safari users not to use the "Autofill" feature for computer security reasons.
Related Articles
- Set Opera As Your Default Internet Browser
- Set Mozilla Firefox As Your Default Browser
- Disable Delete Browser History in Internet Explorer
- Install and Set Up RockMelt
- Clear Your Browser's Cache
Sources and Citations
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-Internet-Explorer-Security-settings
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Security-zones-adding-or-removing-websites
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Block-or-allow-cookies
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Internet-Explorer-Pop-up-Blocker-frequently-asked-questions
- http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options%20window
- http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options%20window%20-%20General%20panel
- http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options%20window%20-%20Tabs%20panel
- http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/#Safari