Browser Installation and Configuration

A Web browser , such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, is the main interface through which you navigate the Internet. Internet Explorer is a standard component of all versions of Windows covered by the A+ Certification Operating Systems Exam. Updates and newer versions can be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Web site with Windows NT 4.095; with Windows 98/2000/Me/XP, you can also get updates and upgrades through Windows Update. Other browsers can be downloaded in compressed form and installed manually.

Depending on how you connect with the Internet, you might need to adjust the browser configuration.

Typical options you might need to change include

• Proxies for use with LAN-based or filtered access Users who access the Internet through a local area network might be doing so through a proxy server. A proxy server receives a copy of the Web site or content the user wants to look at and checks it for viruses or unapproved content before passing it on. The proxy server information is set through the browser's configuration menu.

• Automatic dial up for convenience Internet Explorer and most other browsers can also be set to dial up the Internet automatically whenever you start the browser to make Internet access easier. This option is very useful for dial-up connections but should not be used for connections made through a LAN.

• Email configuration Most browsers include an email client; the settings for the email server and other options must be made to allow email to be seen and replied to within the browser.

• Disable graphics Users with extremely slow connections who view primarily text-based pages can disable graphics for extra speed.

• Security settings for Java Advanced features, such as Java and ActiveX, make sites more interactive, but might also pose a security risk; these features can be limited or disabled through the Security menu.

You can also adjust default colors and fonts and the default start page.

Generally, you should use all the features possible of the browser unless you have speed or security concerns that lead you to disable some features.

Setting Up Your Browser to Use Your Internet Connection

In most cases, users will want the Internet to be available as soon as they open their Web browser. Because some users have dial-up connections and some networks use proxy servers to provide firewall protection or content filtering, you might need to adjust the browser configuration to permit Internet access.

To view or adjust the browser configuration for Internet Explorer, follow this procedure:

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Click Tools, Internet Options.

3. Click the Connections tab.

4. If the Internet connection uses a dial-up modem, select the correct dial-up connection from those listed and choose Always Dial (to start the connection when the browser is opened) or Dial Whenever a Network Connection Is Not Present. Click Set Default to make the selected connection the default.

5. If the Internet connection uses a network, click Never Dial a Connection, and click LAN Settings to check network configuration.

6. Ask the network administrator if you should use Automatically Detect Settings or whether you should specify a particular automatic configuration script.

7. If a proxy server is used for Internet access, it must be specified by servername and port number. If different servers and port numbers are used for different TCP/IP protocols, such as HTTP, FTP, and others, click Advanced and specify the correct server and port number to use (see Figure 21.15).

   Figure 21.15. You can specify different proxy servers, ports, and which servers can be accessed directly by using the Advanced option for proxy server settings.

   

8. Click OK to save changes at each menu level until you return to the browser display.

Enabling/Disabling Script Settings

Some networks use a separate configuration or logon script for Internet access. To specify a script with Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options, Connections, LAN Settings, and Use Automatic Configuration Script. Enter the URL or filename of the script and click OK.

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You can also configure Internet Explorer to automatically detect the settings if your network is configured to provide them. However, if you enable this option and the network is not configured to provide them, Internet Explorer will not be able to connect to the Internet.

Configuring Browser Security Settings

You can configure Internet Explorer's default security settings for Java , ActiveX , and other potentially harmful content through the Internet Options' Security tab. Open the Internet Options tab with Control Panel, or click Tools, Settings, Internet Options within Internet Explorer.

There are four default security settings: High, Medium, Medium-Low, and Low. High blocks almost all active content and prevents Web sites from setting cookies (small text files that can track Web site usage). Medium (the default) enables some active content but blocks unsigned ActiveX controls. Medium-low blocks unsafe content but downloads other content without prompts, and low has no safeguards.

Each setting is matched to a Web content zone . By default, all sites not in other zones are placed in the Internet zone, which uses Medium security. The local Intranet zone also uses Medium security. Trusted sites use Low security by default; restricted sites use High security by default.

To add or remove sites on the local Intranet, Trusted, or Restricted site list, select the zone and click Sites.

By default, local Intranet sites include all local sites, all sites that don't use a proxy server, and all UNC network paths. Remove check marks to restrict these options. Click Advanced to add or remove a specific site or to require a secured server. Trusted or Restricted sites display the Add/Remove dialog box immediately.

Click Custom from the main Security tab to adjust the default settings for any security level.

Enabling/Disabling Windows XP Firewall

Windows XP contains a built-in firewall designed to prevent unauthorized inbound access to a computer. To enable the firewall for a particular connection, right-click the connection in the Network Connections display, select Properties, and click Advanced. Click the box next to Protect My Computerto enable the firewall. Click OK to finish.