Browsers

A web browser is:
A software application that enables a user to display and interact with text, images, and other information typically located on a web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network. Some web browsers are Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox.

Versions

Browser versions are important because:
Newer versions of the same browser will have the added functionality and standards that some web sites require. If you use a n older version of a web browser, newer web pages may not display properly.

Plug-ins

A plug-in is:
An auxiliary program that works to enhance capability. Plug-ins are widely used in web browsers to enable them to support new types of content (audio, video, etc.). Some examples of plug-ins are Macromedia's Flash plug-in, and Sun Microsystems's Java plug-in.

Pop-up Blockers

A pop-up blocker is:
A program that blocks pop-up ads, a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to increase web traffic. In some instances, however, pop-up's can be a legitimate part of an application to add specific functionality. When you have a site that requires pop-up's to function, that site's domain should be added to the trusted list for the pop-up blocker. For example, to enable all UConn sites to be able to run pop-up's on your computer, you should add *.uconn.edu to the pop-up blockers' trusted site list.

Cookies

A HTTP cookie is:
A package of information sent by a server to a web browser and then sent back by the browser each time it accesses that server. HTTP cookies are used for user authentication, user tracking, and maintaining user-specific information such as site preferences. They are in the form of a very small text file. A cookie is safe because it cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses. It is uniquely yours can only be read by the same server that sent it to you.

The purpose of a HTTP cookie is:
To communicate to a web server that you have returned to a particular website.

Cookies can be useful because:
They save you time. If you personalize pages, or register for products or services, a cookie helps that web site remember who you are. When you return, the cookie knows to show you the information you requested.

Toolbars

A toolbar is:
A web browser add-on, normally appearing in a row, column, or block of onscreen buttons that allows the you to perform certain functions. Some exapmples of common toolbars are the Google Toolbar, the MSN toolbar, and the Yahoo! Toolbar. Some toolbars have been known to include spyware, and users are cautioned to be careful when installing toolbars.

Security Settings

The different security zones and their uses are:

Local Intranet Zone: Content located on an organization's Intranet. Because the servers and information are within an organization's firewall, a user or organization can assign a higher trust level to the content on the Intranet.

Trusted Sites Zone: Content located on web sites that are considered more reputable or trustworthy than other sites on the Internet. Use this zone to assign a higher trust level to these sites to minimize the number of authentication requests.

Internet Zone: Web sites on the Internet that do not belong to another zone automatically fall into this zone.. This default setting causes a prompt to the user whenever potentially unsafe content is ready to download.

Restricted Sites Zone: Web sites that contain content that can cause, or may have previously caused problems when downloaded. Use this zone to cause Internet Explorer to alert them whenever potentially unsafe content is about to download, or to prevent that content from downloading.

Local Machine Zone: An implicit zone for content that exists on the local computer. The content found on the user's computer, except for content that is cached on the local system, is treated with a high level of trust. Note: In Windows XP Service Pack 2, the Local Machine Zone Lockdown feature causes additional security that is even more restrictive than the default, Internet Zone settings.