Security Zones

Internet Explorer divides the Internet into these so that users can assign a Website to zones having suitable security levels. Users can ascertain which zone any Web page is in by viewing the right side of the browser’s status bar. When a user tries to download information from any Website, Internet Explorer reviews the security configuration for that site’s zone. The four zones are as follows:

        •   Local Intranet zone: Has addresses not requiring a proxy server, and the addresses here are configured by the system administrator in the Internet Explorer Administrator’s Kit (IEAK). By default, the security level of this zone is Medium.

        •   Trusted site zone: Has sites that users should be able to trust, meaning that they should be able to download or run files without worrying about damage being caused to their computer or information. Users can assign sites to this zone, whose default security level is Low.

        •   Restricted site zone: Has sites that users would not trust because they cannot be sure that they could download or run files without damaging their computers or information. Though users can assign sites to this zone, it defaults to the High security level.

        •   Internet zone: Has information not on the user’s computer, not on an Intranet, and not assigned to any other zone. This level’s default security level is Medium.

See Also: Administrator, Browser; Internet.