Another reader asks: I know you've mentioned before certain things that Web sites can see when we're online, but it was always mixed in with other information. Can you give us a basic list of them instead?

I sure can! It's very important to know what Web sites can see when you're visiting them, so I'm not going to waste any more time with an intro. Let's get right into it!

If you use your computer everyday (which I'm guessing you do if you're reading this newsletter), you probably visit several Web sites each time you get online, right? I know I do. I'm constantly going from site to site, just checking different things out, reading articles, etc. Now, when you're on those Web sites, have you ever wondered what kind of information you're revealing to them? If that question has you intrigued, keep reading!

I know we here at WorldStart have mentioned certain things to you before about this topic, but I thought it would be nice to give you a basic rundown of what all Web sites can obtain about you while you're logged in. To begin, they can see your IP address (192.186.1.1, for example), which is what allows computers to connect with each next day viagra other on the Internet. A Web site cannot see your identity through the IP address, but it can verify your ISP and the region or city you live in. Kind of creepy, huh?! Now, there are programs you can use to keep your IP information private. They do not make you completely anonymous, but they can help. A couple you may want to check out are Ghostsurf and Privoxy.

Another thing Web sites can pick up on is your cookies. Cookies are files that help sites save certain information in between your visits. For example, if you have a username and password for a certain site, the cookies remember that information for you so that you don't always have to log back in. They help make things faster, but they can be a little risky too. They basically allow a Web site to see the path you follow while you're logged in. However, you are able to see your cookies and even delete them if you want to. To do so in Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options and click on the Settings button. From there, click on the View Files button and you'll be able to see the cookies. If you want to delete them, just click the Delete Cookies button in the first window. In Firefox, go to Tools, Options and select the Privacy icon. Click on the Show Cookies button. If you want to delete them, hit the Remove Cookies button and you'll be all set.

Continuing on, Web sites are also able to see your network ports. Those ports are basically paths of communication for your computer and they're all numbered. For example, Web sites usually use port number 80. The ports can help Web sites obtain what programs you're using while you're on the Internet. Now, even though that doesn't seem so bad, they do tend to create some security holes in the actual program. To keep that from happening, make sure you have a good firewall on your computer. A firewall is able to close down any of the ports you don't need.

There's one more! Web sites are able to determine which Web browser and what version of Windows you're using. That information helps Web site owners update and improve their pages, but on the other hand, malicious sites can use that same information to attack you. To avoid any problems like that, make sure your computer is always up to date and be sure to run your antivirus, spyware, etc. scans regularly.

Now, I know this information probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but once you know what's going on each time you visit a Web site, you can help keep yourself safe. I'm definitely not telling you to stop surfing the Web. It's too much fun to do that! I'm telling you all of this so that you can work to keep yourself and your computer as safe as possible. Yes, the Internet can be a dangerous place, but if you do the right things to combat all the problems, you'll be good to go!

Download here 

Publisher: Microsoft
Last updated: March 5, 2008
File Size: 14.4 MB
OS Support: Windows XP
License: Freeware
Downloads: 331

Publisher Description

IE8 takes the Web experience beyond the page and introduces a new way to seamlessly experience the power of the Web.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 is a developer preview for web designers and developers to help prepare their websites for the launch of Internet Explorer 8. Some of the new features designed for developers include a developer toolbar and improved interoperability and compatibility.

Internet Explorer 8 is designed to work in standard mode out of this box. However, Microsoft provides a way for users to browse the web in a way similar to Internet Explorer 7 by using the emulate Internet Explorer 7 button on the chrome.

The web at your service

Internet Explorer 8 will take the web experience beyond the page. Internet Explorer 8 introduces a new way to seamlessly experience the best of the web whether you are a web developer writing to standards or a user discovering a new online service. Be one of the first developers to take advantage of improvements in Internet Explorer 8 for your websites and applications.

Over the last ten years, the intensity of web usage and people's reliance on the web has increased dramatically. The evolution of the web has introduced a new set of opportunities, immersive experiences, online services, and standards. cheap viagra overnight Daily life without the web is simply hard for many people to imagine.

With this intensity and reliance, web developers and designers face an evolving set of needs including:

* Interoperability and compatibility
* Built-in tools that help both first time and experienced developers and designers get pages built right
* Browser capabilities that enable innovative experiences

Internet Explorer 8 will take the web experience beyond the page and introduce a new way to seamlessly experience the best of the web, whether you are a web developer writing to standards or an end-user discovering a new online service.

Activities

Activities are contextual services that provide quick access to external services from any webpage. Activities typically involve one of two types of actions:

* "Look up" information related to data in the current webpage
* "Send" content from the current webpage to another application

WebSlices

Web sites can expose portions of their page as a WebSlice that users can subscribe to and bring that content with them on their links bar wherever they are on the web. Users receive update notifications when the content changes.

Nope, that's not a typo. Even though it may be a little hard to believe, I made no mistake when I said Internet Explorer 8. On March 5, 2008 (just this past Wednesday), the Microsoft Corporation announced the arrival of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 and told the public it is now available for download. Isn't that amazing?! It hasn't even been two years since IE 7 was released and Microsoft has already come this far with a brand new version. Make sure you keep reading for the entire scoop. This one's a must see!

After the unveiling, Microsoft posted a link on their Web site that was titled "Beta 1 For Developers." Now, that basically means this beta version is mainly meant for developers and designers so that they can test out the layout, the new tools, the programming, etc. However, anyone can access cheap generic viagra online the link, so if you want to download and install the IE 8 preview, you most certainly can. Microsoft also made it clear that the IE 8 beta is available in separate versions for different operating systems (Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 and Server 2008).

So, what can you expect from Internet Explorer 8? Well, there are going to be several "never seen before" features. One is a complete IE 8 Readiness Toolkit, which includes new tools like WebSlices and Activities. There will also be a newly redesigned Favorites bar, automatic crash recovery and improved anti-phishing filters. A lot of the new features are similar to what you'd find in the Safari Web browser for Macs, which is also pretty cool. Microsoft is obviously still working on putting IE 8 together, but if you download the preview, you can at least see some samples of what they're doing. You can check it all out right here. Grab your copy today!

Microsoft warned that it will push a new version of Internet Explorer 7 via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) in February. Specifically, administrators who have set WSUS to automatically approve Update Rollups will need to disable the auto-approval rule before Feb. 12 to stop IE7 from being updated into their infrastructure.

As of last year, Microsoft removed the requirement of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation from an usa cialis Internet Explorer 7 installation, making it available to all Windows XP users. Microsoft explained that the move was prompted by security concerns.

Excerpt from InfoWorld:

“Because Microsoft takes its commitment to help protect the entire Windows ecosystem seriously, we’re updating the IE7 installation experience to make it available as broadly as possible to all Windows users,” said Steve Reynolds, an IE program manager, on a Microsoft company blog in early,” said Steve Reynolds, an IE program manager.

Web metrics gathered by Net Applications during December 2007 shows that IE6 accounted for 35 percent of the browsers that visited some 40,000 monitored sites.

Have you ever noticed that when you click a link in Internet Explorer, there is a distinct “clicking” sound that plays through your speakers? As if the actual click of the mouse button wasn’t realistic enough! If you’ve never heard that sound, you should consider yourself lucky, because by default, it is always activated. At first, it’s unnoticeable, but as you become more experienced with surfing the Web and you begin to follow links to your favorite Web sites, you will start to hear it more frequently. Luckily, there is an easy way to turn this sound effect off. Let's see how!

First, you need to find the Control Panel. In Windows XP, the Control Panel can be located right from the Start menu, as shown below. For Windows 95/98/Me/NT, click on the Start button, choose Settings generic cialis professional and then click on the Control Panel icon.

Once you have the Control Panel open, you'll need to search for the Audio properties. In Windows XP, you will find that under Sounds and Audio Devices, if you're in the Classic View. If you're in the Category View, you will first need to click on Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices, followed by Sounds and Audio Devices.
(To see whether you are in the Classic or Category view, simply refer to the first box in the blue column on the left hand side of the Control Panel window).

Below is a screenshot from the Windows XP Control Panel in the Classic View:

Here is one of the Windows XP Control Panel in the Category View:

For older computers, you can find the same settings by clicking on Sounds and Multimedia Properties or simply Sounds, depending on the version of Windows you're using.

Now, once you’ve clicked on the Sounds and Audio Devices icon, you will see the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window. Across the top of that screen, you will see various tabs that can take you to different parts of the Properties area. Go ahead and click on the Sounds tab.

In the second half of the screen, you will see a scroll menu that lists all of the Windows sounds in different categories. Scroll down until you reach the Windows Explorer category and then click on the Start Navigation option.

When you click on the Start Navigation sound, a drop down menu will become available at the bottom of the window. This is where you can change the sound for each action. Click on the drop down arrow and a list of available sounds will appear. The one at the very top is the one we want. Find it and select [None].

Once you select [None], the last step is to click the OK button at the bottom.

Ah, silence sure is golden, isn’t it?!