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These settings are something of a compromise between security and ease of use. I do not guarantee accuracy, but they do work for me. |
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· If your configuration of MS Outlook or Internet Explorer (IE) is behaving strangely, simply compare your settings to mine, side by side. |
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· Or to resolve a specific issue, press Ctrl-f and type the word or term that you are looking for. |
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· Of course, your ISP, mail and modem names, etc. will differ. Things may really differ if you are not running Windows on an IBM compatible PC. |
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· If you cannot see all of this page without scrolling to the right, you might want to adjust your display properties up to a width of 1024. |
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· To print this out, click on File / Page Setup in your toolbar and select Landscape. Then Print it. |
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· To maximize security, I also have ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus always on and running. Consider these critical; they may save your life. |
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· About once a week, I run BigFix which checks for Windows and other updates, plus. |
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· Just as often, I run EndItAll to close everything, EasyCleaner to purge accumulated garbage and Norton SystemWorks (Utilities) to scan & defrag. |
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· Occasionally, I run Fred Langa’s BrowserTune and I ask Steve Gibson’s Shields-Up to attempt penetration of my system. |
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Click here to go to the Internet Explorer settings... |
This is a spam fighting web site. | |
| Microsoft Outlook 2000 settings: |
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Tools |
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Accounts |
“Internet Accounts” |
{ This can also be accessed through the Options / Mail Delivery tab below. Enter by either door. } |
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{ Select one Mail option (or the only one) } |
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Properties button |
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General tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / General } |
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Mail Account |
Van’s mail |
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User Info |
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Name: |
Van |
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Organization: |
blank { but I could put 'The Computor Tutor' here } |
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E-mail address: |
van@blakeman .net { out through my ISP (was Earthlink dial-up; now Adelphia high speed cable) } |
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Reply address: |
van@blakeman .net { in through my domain host (my mail & web space at Lunarpages.com) } |
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{ E-mail & Reply can be different. Reply is normally blank. } |
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Include this account when receiving… |
yes |
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Servers tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / servers } |
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Server Information |
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My incoming mail server is a |
POP3 server. |
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alternatives 1: |
Incoming mail (POP3) |
mail.adelphia.net { in through my ISP. This is the normal setting. (was mail.earthlink.net) } |
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2:
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Incoming mail (POP3) |
blakeman.net { or, in through my domain which is hosted by Lunarpages.com } |
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3:
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Incoming mail (POP3) |
127.0.0.1 { or, my actual setting - email goes through a spam filter first: K9; then to Outlook } |
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Outgoing mail (SMTP) |
mail.adelphia.net { out through my ISP (was mail.earthlink.net) } |
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{ Incoming and Outgoing are generally the same (i.e.: mail.adelphia.net) } |
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Incoming Mail Server |
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Account name: |
blakeman.net/110/van%blakeman.net { Was “5172vbla” elsewhere - usually defined by mail provider } |
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Password: |
***** |
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Remember password |
yes |
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Log on using Secure... |
no |
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Outgoing Mail Server |
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My server requires... |
no |
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Settings button |
disabled |
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Connection tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection } |
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Connection |
Connect using my phone line |
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EL Barn 15084376884 { EarthLink Barnstable ... Do one for each local #. If one doesn't connect, try another} |
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Properties button |
{ Same thing as “Dial-up settings” in the Internet Explorer. } |
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General tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection / Modem / Properties / General } |
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Phone number / Telephone... |
15084376884 |
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Use area code and Dialing Prop... |
no { if the number is local and you don’t dial 9, etc.. I included the area code in the above number. } |
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Connect using: |
Viking V.90 Cellular PC Card Modem or U.S. Robotics 56K Voice Pro PnP or ... |
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Configure button |
or Lucent Win Modem { I have 3 modems to choose from } |
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General tab |
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Port: |
COM2 { 1, 3 or 4 depending on other modems you may have } |
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Speaker volume |
Off |
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Maximum speed |
19200 { A tech told me to set it this low. Perhaps it doesn’t matter if you’re modem is a 56K dial-up } |
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Only connect at ... |
No |
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Connection tab |
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Connection pref... |
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Data bits: |
8 |
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Parity: |
None |
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Stop bits: |
1 |
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Call preferences |
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Wait for dial... |
no { Especially No if connecting through a cell phone with no dial tone. } |
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Cancel…within |
60 secs |
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Disconnect… |
no |
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Port Settings button |
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Use FIFO… |
yes |
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Receive… |
High |
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Transmit… |
Maximum |
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Advanced button |
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Use error… |
yes |
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Compress… |
yes |
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Use flow… |
yes |
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Hardware |
yes |
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Modulation… |
Standard |
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Extra settings |
blank { Some modem manufacturers provide settings for this field – call them or check their web site. } |
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Append to log |
{ Not a bad idea so you can see what went wrong. Just remember to clear the log every so often. } |
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Options tab |
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Connection control |
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Bring up... |
no |
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Bring up... |
no |
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Dial control |
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Operator... |
no |
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Wait for cred... |
disabled 8 seconds |
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Display modem Stat... |
yes |
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Distinctive Ring tab |
[ This tab is not at this location in IE 6.x ] |
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This phone line... |
no |
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Forwarding tab |
[ This tab is not at this location in IE 6.x ] |
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This phone line... |
no |
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Networking(ME) / ServerTypes(98) tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection / Modem / Properties / Server Types or Networking } |
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Type of Dial-up Server: |
PPP: Internet, Windows… |
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Advanced options: |
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Log on to network |
no { 98; not ME – see Security 14 lines down } |
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Enable software compression |
yes { I believe that some modems require that this be off } |
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Require encrypted password |
no { 98; not ME – see Security 12 lines down } |
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Require data encryption |
no { 98; not ME – see Security 11 lines down } |
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Record a log file... |
no { but it might help you can see what went wrong. Just remember to clear the log every so often. } |
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Allowed network protocols: |
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NetBEUI |
no |
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IPX/SPX… |
no |
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TCP/IP |
yes |
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TCP/IP Settings button |
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Server ass. IP… |
yes |
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Server ass. name... |
yes |
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Use IP header… |
yes |
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Use default... |
yes |
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Security tab (ME; not 98) |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection / Modem / Properties / Security (ME only) } |
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Authentication: |
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User name: |
van@blakeman.net { was van9@earthlink.net } |
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Password: |
***** |
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Domain: |
blank |
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Connect automatically |
yes |
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Advanced security options: |
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Log on to network |
no |
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Require encrypted... |
no |
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Require data... |
no |
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Scripting tab |
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Script file / file name |
blank |
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Edit button |
disabled |
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Browse button |
{ Allows you to load a script file of your own or one you downloaded for special purposes. Careful ! } |
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Step through script |
disabled |
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Start terminal screen... |
no |
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Multilink tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection / Modem / Properties / Multilink } |
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Do not use additional... |
yes |
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Use additional devices |
no |
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Selected device & 3 buttons |
disabled |
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Dialing tab (ME; not 98) |
{ 98 – see note 3 lines down } |
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This is the default… |
yes |
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Dial whenever… |
yes { Can only select one } |
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Redial settings: |
{ In 98, this is set in IE under Tools / Internet Options / Connections / Settings / dial-up settings / Advanced } |
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Try to connect |
4 times |
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Wait |
5 seconds between attempts |
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Enable idle disconnect |
yes |
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Disconnect if idle for |
20 minutes |
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Consider idle at |
5 percent of ... |
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Don’t prompt before ... |
no (off) |
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Disconnect when… |
yes |
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Add button { We’re back in the main Properties box} |
{ To add a another connection – I have 9 selections, each configured according to different needs. } |
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Advanced tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Advanced } |
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Server Port Numbers |
{ Ignore those fields that are not in your dialog box } |
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Outgoing mail (SMTP): |
25 |
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Use Defaults button |
{ Instead of entering your own } |
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This server requires ... (SSL) |
no |
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Incoming mail (POP3): |
110 { normally, but my email is first filtered through K-9 for spam, which requires a 9999 here. } |
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This server requires ... (SSL) |
no |
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Server Timeouts |
5 minutes |
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Sending / Break apart... |
no |
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Delivery / Leave a copy... |
no |
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2 sub-fields |
disabled |
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Tools |
{ Done with Tools / Accounts } |
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Options |
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{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options } |
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Preferences tab |
{ That’s all they are; nothing critical. } |
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E-mail Options... button |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Preferences tab / E-mail Options } |
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Message handling |
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After moving or deleting ... |
open the previous item |
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Close original message on reply ... |
yes |
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Save copies of messages in Sent ... |
yes |
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Display a notification message ... |
no |
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Automatically save unsent messages |
yes |
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Advanced E-mail Options... button |
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Save messages |
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Save unsent items in: |
Drafts |
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AutoSave unsent every: |
1 minutes |
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In folders other then ... |
yes |
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Save forwarded messages |
yes |
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When new items arrive |
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Play a sound |
yes |
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Briefly change the mouse... |
yes |
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When sending a message |
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Set importance: |
Normal |
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Set sensitivity: |
Normal |
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Allow comma as address... |
yes |
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Automatic name checking |
yes |
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Delete meeting request ... |
no |
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Tracking Options... button |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Preferences tab / E-mail Options } |
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Options |
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Process requests and ... |
yes |
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Process receipts on ... |
yes |
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After processing, move ... |
no |
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Delete blank voting and ... |
no |
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Request a read receipt for ... |
no |
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Always send a response |
no |
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Never send a response |
yes |
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Ask me before sending ... |
no |
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On replies and forwards |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Preferences tab / E-mail Options } |
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When replying to a message |
Include and indent original message text |
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When forwarding a message |
Include original message text |
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Prefix each line with: |
{ Disabled here, but if not so in yours, leave it blank. They make forwarded emails hard to read & messy. } |
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Mark my comments with: |
no |
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Automatically put people I reply to in |
yes Contacts |
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{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Mail Delivery tab } |
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Accounts Manager |
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Accounts button |
{ This is the same as Tools / Accounts at the top of this page. Enter by either door to change settings. } |
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Mail account options |
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Send messages immediately ... |
yes |
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Check for new messages every |
60 minutes |
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Dial-up options |
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Warn before switching… |
no |
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Hang up when finished sending… |
yes |
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Automatically dial when checking… |
yes |
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Don't download messages larger then |
no |
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Reconfigure Mail... button |
{ To set up another connection to an ISP. } |
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Mail Format tab |
{ Send HTML (triggers some filters) or text (more likely to get there); select stationary; create a signature. } |
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Spelling tab |
{ Refine what gets spell-checked and what does not. } |
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Security tab |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Security } |
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Secure e-mail (3 options, a field & button) |
{ Encrypt an email so that it can only be read by those who have the “key”. I don't use it, but it could be useful. } |
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Secure content |
{ Limit the potential effects of malicious hacker penetration – this has becomes critical. } |
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Zone: |
Internet |
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Zone Settings button (Security) |
Internet { Same as IE's Internet Options / Security. Enter through either door. } |
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Select a web content zone... |
Internet |
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Security level for this zone |
Custom |
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Custom Level button |
{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options / Security / Secure content / Zone / Zone settings / Security Level / Custom level } |
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Settings: |
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ActiveX controls... |
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Download signed… |
Prompt |
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Download unsign… |
Disable |
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Initialize and scr… |
Disable |
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Run ActiveX… |
Enable |
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Script ActiveX… |
Enable |
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Cookies |
{ This might not be included in your dialog box. Cookies are harmless; not a security matter. } |
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Allow cookies… |
Enable |
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Allow per-session... |
Enable |
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Downloads |
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File download |
Enable |
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Font download |
Enable |
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{ Also see Internet Explorer: Tools / internet Options / Advanced / Microsoft VM } |
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Java permissions |
High safety |
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Miscellaneous |
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Access data… |
Disable |
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Allow META ... |
Enable { Some of these options may not be in your dialog box. } |
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Display mixed ... |
Prompt |
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Don't prompt… |
Disable |
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Drag and drop… |
Enable |
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Installation… |
Prompt |
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Launching… |
Prompt |
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Navigate… |
Enable |
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Software channel… |
Medium safety |
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Submit nonenc… |
Enable |
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Userdata pers... |
Enable |
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Scripting |
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Active scripting |
Enable |
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Allow paste… |
Enable |
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Scripting of Java… |
Enable |
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User Authentication |
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Logon |
Automatic logon with current... |
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Reset custom settings |
Don’t, if you made the above adjustments. { To select MS’s generic Low to High security Options. } |
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Default Level button |
Don’t, if you made the above adjustments. { These revert to the original MS security settings. } |
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Attachment Security/Security method |
High { 98; not ME } |
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Digital IDs (Certificates) & 2 buttons |
{ Documents that allow you to prove your identity online. I have not used these. } |
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Other tab { Still in Tools / Options} |
{ Adjust these according to your personal preferences. } |
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{ Outlook thread: Tools / Options } |
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 . |
| Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x & 6.x Settings | Press
Ctrl-Home to return to the top. |
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Tools |
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{ Do you know that you can run more then one IE at a time? In fact, you can Right-drag 2 IE icons into |
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Internet Options |
your ‘Quick Launch’ bar, each with a different setting: ie: “URL: http://www.blakeman.net/_VA/ ”. (in one) } |
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General tab |
{ Personal preferences. I do not delete Temporary Internet files, nor History. } |
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Security tab |
{ See Security under MS Outlook Options above - same thing. } |
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Privacy tab |
Medium { Do not block cookies; you need them. They cannot harm you. } |
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Content tab |
{ Limit what you can View (I don’t). Define your online ID (I don’t). Edit autocomplete options (I do). } |
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Connections tab |
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Setup button |
{ Use a wizard to establish a new connection to the internet. } |
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Dial-up settings |
EL Barn 15084376884 (Default) { That’s Earthlink, Barnstable & the number it dials. I named it that way. } |
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Add button |
{ Manually establish a new connection to the internet. } |
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Remove button |
{ Delete a connection. } |
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Settings button |
{ IE thread: Tools / Internet Options / Connections / Dial-up settings / settings } |
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Automatically detect settings |
no |
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Use automatic configuration script |
no |
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Use a proxy server |
no |
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User name: |
van9@earthlink.net { was van@talarion.com } |
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Password: |
**** |
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Domain: |
blank |
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Properties button |
{ See MS Outlook under Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / Connection / Modem / Properties - same thing) |
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Advanced { 98; not ME } |
{ In ME, this is set in MS Outlook under Tools / Accounts / Mail / Properties / connection / Dialing } |
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Try to connect |
2 times |
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Wait |
5 seconds... |
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Disconnect if idle for |
30 minutes |
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Disconnect when... |
yes |
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Dial whenever a network connection… |
yes { This “network” should be read as “internet” } |
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Perform system security check… |
no |
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LAN Settings… |
none { Unless your PC is part of an in-house 'Local Area Network' of machines. } |
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Programs tab |
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Internet programs |
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HTML editor: |
Nvu { My preference, but FrontPage, Dreamweaver and Microsoft Word for Windows will work. } |
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E-mail: |
Microsoft Outlook |
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Newsgroups: |
Microsoft Outlook |
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Internet call: |
Microsoft NetMeeting |
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Calendar: |
Microsoft Outlook |
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Contact list: |
Microsoft Outlook |
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Reset Web Settings button |
{ If you don’t like your default home page, search engine or whatever, this will give you Microsoft’s. } |
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Internet Explorer should check... |
yes - always |
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Advanced tab / Settings: |
{ IE thread: Tools / Internet Options / Advanced } |
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Accessibility |
{ Personal preference or necessity. } |
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Browsing |
{ Some of these settings are in IE 6, but not in IE 5. Just ignore them in IE 5. } |
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Always send URLs as… |
yes |
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Automatically check… |
no (One less thing running in the background slowing things down - just do it yourself weekly.) |
|
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Close unused folders… |
yes |
|
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Disable script debugging |
no |
|
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Display a notification… |
no |
|
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Enable folder view… |
yes |
|
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Enable Install… |
no & no { Could allow installation of malicious coding. } |
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Enable offline items… |
no |
|
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Enable page transitions |
no |
|
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Enable personalized Favorites Menu |
no { ME; not 98 } |
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Enable third-party browser extensions ... |
yes |
|
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Force offscreen compositing ... |
no |
|
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Notify when downloads… |
no |
|
|
Reuse windows… |
yes |
|
|
Show channel bar at startup... |
no { 98; not ME } |
|
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Show friendly HTTP… |
yes |
|
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Show friendly URLs |
no |
|
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Show Go button in Address bar |
no |
|
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Show Internet Explorer on the desktop |
no { Right-drag it into the Quick Launch bar instead. } |
|
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Underline links |
Always |
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Use inline AutoComplete |
yes { ME; not 98 } |
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Use inline AutoComplete for Web... |
yes { 98; not ME } |
|
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Use inline AutoComplete in Win... |
yes { 98; not ME } |
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Use Passive FTP… |
no |
|
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Use smooth scrolling |
no |
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HTTP 1.1 settings |
|
|
|
Use HTTP 1.1 |
yes |
|
|
Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy… |
no |
|
|
{ Also see Outlook: Tools / Options / Security / Secure content / Zone / Zone settings / Custom / Microsoft VM } |
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|
Java console enabled… |
yes |
|
|
Java logging enabled |
no |
|
|
JIT compiler for virtual machine… |
yes |
|
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Multimedia |
|
|
|
Always show IE Radio toolbar |
no |
|
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Don’t display online media ... bar |
no |
|
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Enable Automatic Image Resizing |
no |
|
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Enable Image Toolbar |
yes |
|
|
Play animations |
no |
|
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Play sounds |
yes |
|
|
Play videos |
yes |
|
|
Show image download placeholders |
no |
|
|
Show pictures |
yes |
|
|
Smart image dithering |
no |
|
|
Printing |
|
|
|
Print background colors and images |
no |
|
|
Search from the Address bar |
|
|
|
When searching |
Just go to the most likely site |
|
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Security |
|
|
|
Check for publisher's certificate… |
yes |
|
|
Check for server certificate... |
no |
|
|
Check for signatures ... |
no |
|
|
Do not save encrypted pages… |
no |
|
|
Empty Temporary Internet Files… |
no |
|
|
Enable Profile Assistant |
no |
|
|
Use Fortezza |
yes |
|
|
Use PCT 1.0 |
no |
|
|
Use SSL 2.0 |
yes |
|
|
Use SSL 3.0 |
yes |
|
|
Use TLS 1.0 |
no |
|
|
Warn about invalid site certificates |
yes |
|
|
Warn if changing between secure… |
no |
|
|
Warn if forms submittal is... redirected |
yes |
|
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Restore Defaults button |
no! Not after all this work! |
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{ IE thread: Tools / Internet Options / Advanced } |
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