Did it seem like a lot of work/steps to add one Web site to a zone? Download and install
Microsoft's FREE
"Power Tweaks Web Accessories". They can be installed and used if you have
Internet Explorer versions 5 or 6. Power Tweaks creates two new menu items on
Internet Explorers "Tools" list on the menu bar. You will be able to quickly add
sites to either the Trusted or Restricted sites zone. With "Power Tweaks" installed
you add a Web site to a zone by clicking:
"Tools" on the menu bar
Add to either Trusted or Restricted Zone (see image below)
The Internet is home to millions of Web sites and growing constantly. How do you
determine what Web sites to trust? Most people do not have enough information available
to make a valid decision regarding what Web site is safe or not. How would you know if
a link you click and follow does not take you to a Web site that poses a threat to your
security and or privacy? What can you do?
One solution is to add a large list of potentially dangerous Web sites to Internet
Explorer's "Restricted sites" zone. Any Web sites in the "Restricted sites zone"
list will be controlled by the higher security settings this zone applies. The
list would have to be something you can regularly update to be effective. We
don't want to type and add the address of each Web site one at a time. The list
needs to be easy to add/import into the restricted sites zone. The folks at
Javacool Software have created and maintain this type of list. The freely available
SpywareBlaster can automatically add
over 1800 Web sites to Internet Explorer's "Restricted sites" zone. If you are
lured to or accidentally arrive at one of these suspected malicious Web sites you
will be automatically protected by the higher security settings of the restricted
sites zone. A restricted sites list of this type is not a perfect solution. New
Web sites designed with malicious intent are constantly created on the Internet.
The newest of these Web sites may not be immediately detected and added to a restricted
sites list. Some Web sites on the list may no longer be active or online.
While not perfect, a list of this type does provide an additional layer
of protection.
Using SpywareBlaster to import a restricted sites list is very simple.
SpywareBlaster is FREE and totally functional with no adds nagging you to buy the
product. At the time I wrote this tutorial the free version requires all updates
to be done manually by clicking the "Check for Updates" button. For a small fee
you can subscribe to have all updates automatically delivered to your computer.
The protection any application of this type offers is only as good as the most
current update you have installed. The obvious benefit to automatic updates is
YOU don't have to remember to keep your protection up to date. Of course any fee
you pay supports further and future development of SpywareBlaster. SpywareBlaster
has other useful features I discuss on my
product description page.
Immediately after you install SpywareBlaster you will see a "Getting Started"
tutorial offering a quick introduction to the application. Click the
"Next" button and follow through the short tutorial.
Click "Finish" at the end of the tutorial and you see SpywareBlaster's main
"Status" screen. The "Status" screen shows which protection features you currently
have enabled (see image below).
