A+: Browsing and Security 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. Depending on the version of Internet Explorer there
will be five or four default security settings: High, Medium-
high, Medium, Medium-Low, and Low. High blocks almost all active
content and prevents websites from setting cookies (small text
files that can track website 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-
high security (Medium on older versions of Internet Explorer).
The local Intranet zone uses Medium-low se