Lesson 2: ActiveX Controls and Security

Internet Explorer Security Zones

Users of Microsoft Internet Explorer can control the types of active content they download from a Web page. They can disable all active content or specify that only certain categories of content be allowed.

Figure 8.1 Setting security levels in Internet Explorer

* To specify a security level in the Internet Explorer

1. Select Options on the Microsoft Internet Explorer View menu, and then
2. Select the Security tab.
3. Under Internet zone , select the desired security level.

   There are four zones to choose from:

   • Local intranet zone
   • Trusted sites zone
   • Internet zone
   • Restricted sites zone

You can restrict each zone to one of four security levels, as defined in the following table:

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Level	Description
High	The Web browser will not accept any active content. The user must change this setting to begin receiving any active content.
Medium	This option prompts the user before downloading any content.
Low	All active content is downloaded automatically without prompting the user first. Setting the Internet Zone to Low is not recommended.
Custom	For advanced users, you can specify how different active content should be managed.

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If you set the option High (most secure) for the Internet Zone, no ActiveX content is downloaded to your system. However, you could also set the Local Intranet Zone to Low because there is a lower risk when using the local intranet. ActiveX content is downloaded only when you are connected to servers on the LAN.