Description of Internet Explorer Advanced Settings

Accessibility

Always expand ALT text for images

This option expands the image size to fit all of the alternate text. This ensures that ALT text is not cut off if the amount of ALT text is larger than the image area.

Move System Caret with Focus/Selection Changes

This option moves the system caret (cursor) when the focus/selection changes. It can help some screen readers and screen magnifiers use the "system caret" (cursor) to determine which area of the screen to read or magnify.

Reset text size to medium for new windows and tabs

If a new window or tab is opened, Internet Explorer will automatically set the text size to medium no matter what the current display settings are.

Reset text size to medium while zooming (requires restart)

If the zoom option is implemented, Internet Explorer will automatically set the text size to medium for the current zoom setting. The text size may seem bigger, but the text will remain relative to the percentage zoomed.

Reset Zoom level to 100% for new windows and tabs

If a new window or tab is opened, Internet Explorer will automatically set the zoom level to 100% no matter what the current zoom level settings are.

Browsing

Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates

Checks for new versions of MSIE. This is not necessary since Windows has automatic updating.

Close unused folders in History and Favorites (requires restart)

Prevents old pages and favorites from cluttering up the ones you use most often

Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)

This feature is for letting the user know why a feature on a webpage doesn't work.

Disable script debugging (Other)

This feature is for letting the user know why a feature on a webpage doesn't work.

Display a notification about every script error

This feature is for letting the user know why a feature on a webpage doesn't work.

Enable FTP folder view (outside of Internet Explorer)

If checked, determines whether you see the familiar Windows folders when browsing an FTP server versus file names listed along the left side of the screen. The only security consideration is that "folder view" tends to provide less detail about the nature of files

Enable page transitions

Turned on, this option makes Internet Explorer fade out of a page you are leaving and fade into a page you're going to. Turned off, screen readers and voice recognition programs may perform better.

Enable personalized favorites menu

The Personalized Favorites Menu feature adapts the favorites menu in Internet Explorer to the way you work by displaying the Internet shortcuts you use most often and hiding those that you use less frequently

Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart)

If not checked, disables BHOs (Browser Helper Objects), which is how many kinds of malware operate.

Enable visual styles on buttons and controls on webpages

Makes controls such as radio buttons have an enhanced GUI.

Enable websites to use the search pane (requires restart)

Force offscreen compositing even under Terminal Server (requires restart)

This option allows one image to be overlaid onto another when running Terminal Services, which allows you to connect to another computer and basically treat it as if it was part of yours. If checked, it can allow false or misleading images to be displayed.

Notify when downloads complete

When a download completes, the download dialog and status will pop-up showing you that the download finished and offering you a chance to launch the file with the Open button.

Reuse windows for launching shortcuts (when tabbed browsing is off)

If this option is checked, when you click a link that is a shortcut it will not load a new window but will run in the current one.

Show friendly HTTP Error messages

Shows the familiar Windows error that offers some suggestions how to resolve the error. If unchecked, it shows the error code and message only (ex. 404 - page not found).

Underline links

When set to Always, will let you know that a link is there. When set to Hover, links will only underline when the cursor is over them. Never will not underline links.

Use Inline AutoComplete

This option tells Internet Explorer to complete entries when you type web addresses in the address bar, based on entries you've used before. You can select the suggested entry by pressing ENTER, or choose from a list of additional options by pressing the DOWN ARROW key until you find the one you want, then pressing ENTER. This option can benefit people with mobility impairments by helping save keystrokes.

Use most recent order when switching tabs with Ctrl+Tab

If this option is checked, it will view the last visited page.

Use Smooth Scrolling

Turned on, this option allows a special type of scrolling to display content at a predetermined speed. Turned off, screen readers will continue to read links correctly even when the next link is off the current screen, and voice recognition programs may perform better as well. Left on, screen readers will sometimes read part of the next link, and sometimes read extraneous information along with the next link.

HTTP 1.1 Settings

Use HTTP 1.1

Uses the HTTP 1.1 standard to decode and send data to websites rather than the older HTTP 1.0 standard. HTTP 1.1 compresses data packets before sending them to and from your computer resulting in faster performance.

Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections

When a website loads incorrectly, it may be because your system is behind a proxy server. This option is usually checked when the user is troubleshooting.

International (requires restart)

Always show encoded addresses

Internet Explorer now permits navigation to International Domain Names (IDN) written with Unicode characters from all of the world's languages. When this option is set, all IDN Web addresses will be shown in encoded form.

Send IDN server names

Send IDN server names for Intranet Addresses

Send UTF-8 URLS

This determines whether URLs are sent in Unicode UTF-8 format. UTF-8 is a standard method for representing characters among multiple languages and alphabets.

Show information bar for encoded addresses

Use UTF-8 for mailto links

Java (Sun)

Use JRE 1.5.0_06 for <applet> (requires restart)

Microsoft VM

Java console enabled (requires restart)

Allows you to view debugging information for Java applets.

Java logging enabled

Allows you to log debugging information for Java applets.

JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled (requires restart)

JIT (Just-In-Time) Compiler starts compiling Java code as it is downloaded, rather than waiting for a complete download

Multimedia

Always use ClearType for HTML (requires restart)

ClearType is a software technology developed by Microsoft that improves the readability of text on existing LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), such as laptop screens, Pocket PC screens and flat panel monitors. With ClearType font technology, the words on your computer screen look almost as sharp and clear as those printed on a piece of paper.

Read More about ClearType Technology

Enable automatic image resizing

Allows images to be resized to properly fit your screen

Play Animations in webpages (requires restart)

Turned on, this option allows animations to be play when pages are displayed. Turned off, the visual experience will often improve for people who have low vision or who are sensitive to screen flashing. Turning off this option often also helps pages display quicker.

Play Sounds in webpages

Turned on, music and other sounds included in Web pages will play when the pages are displayed. Turned off, screen readers will be better able to be heard without distracting computer sounds. Turning this option of can also benefit people who have cognitive disabilities by reducing sound distractions.

Show image download placeholders

If an image cannot be viewed, this feature allows Internet Explorer to display descriptions of what those images should be, assuming the webpage author put them into their webpage.

Show Pictures

When this option is turned on, graphical images included in Web pages will appear as the pages are displayed. Turned off, the visual experience will often improve for people who have low vision or who are sensitive to screen flashing. Turning off this option often also helps pages display quicker.

Smart image dithering

Dithering refers to a process in which the computer figures out how to resize an image to fit a larger or smaller area. Smart image dithering will usually produce better-looking results than other methods such as simple dithering or expansion.

Printing

Print Background Colors and Images

Turned on, this option allows background colors and images to print when you print a Web page. Turned off, print legibility is often improved.

Security

Allow active content from CDs to run on My Computer (requires restart)

This allows webpages to access files from a CD on your machine

Allow active content to run in files on My Computer (requires restart)

This allows webpages to access files from your hard drive

Allow software to run or install even if the signature is invalid

If enabled, this feature allows software to install without a certificate

Check for publisher's certificate revocation

This option enables Internet Explorer to check to see if the Software Publisher's Certificate has been revoked. Certificates are revoked when they have been compromised or are no longer valid. It is important that you enable this option, so that you don't submit confidential data to a site that may be fraudulent and/or not secure.

Check for server certificate revocation (requires restart)

Similar to the previous setting, except that, this option will enable Internet Explorer to check if the server's certificate has been revoked.

Check for signatures on downloaded programs

Internet Explorer does not check for digital signa tures before downloading executable programs. A digital signature identifies the publisher of signed software and verifies that it hasn't been modified or tampered with. Otherwise, potentially malicious or virus-infected programs may be downloaded onto the computer.

Do not save encrypted pages to disk

This option will prevent Internet Explorer from saving encrypted pages that contain secure (HTTPS) information such as such as passwords and credit card numbers to disk, which may be insecure.

Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting

This setting allows scripts embedded in web pages on sites within the zone to interact with ActiveX controls marked as safe. Safe controls are ActiveX programs that are specifically designed to interact with scripts. This does not mean that the program is safe; only that the program can safely interact with script. If allowed, a malicious script that interacts with an ActiveX control could be run on your computer.

Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed

Enable this setting to have Internet Explorer delete the contents of your Temporary Internet Files folder, when you close all Internet Explorer windows. This is especially important if you share your computer with someone else, and as an added bonus it also saves space.

Enable Integrated Windows Authentication (requires restart)

Enable Integrated Windows Authentication allows you to Negotiate/Kerberos authentication, when enabled.

Enable native XMLHTTP support

XMLHTTP is the foundation of "AJAX." The object allows web pages to send and receive XML (or other data) via the HTTP protocol. If this option is turned on, XMLHTTP makes it possible to create responsive web applications that do not require redownloading the entire page to display new data.

Phishing Filter

If the filter is turned on, every URL a user visits that is not on the client-side whitelist is transmitted to Microsoft's servers to be checked. If a person visits a site that is confirmed on the list of reported phishing sites, Internet Explorer will display a "red" warning bar above the Web page and block the user from entering personal data. If the Web site contains characteristics common to a phishing site but isn't on the list of known sites, Internet Explorer will display a "yellow" warning bar to serve as a warning that the site is a suspected phishing scam. On suspicious sites, users will have the option to continue to the suspect site or close their browser or tab in the toolbar.

If turned off, Phishing Filter will not automatically check the website. It will only warn you about known phishing scams.

If disabled, Phishing Filter will not check or warn you about phishing sites.

Enable Profile Assistant

Profile Assistant stores your registration and demographic information, and then Internet Explorer automatically sends this information to Web sites that require it. This saves you from having to type the same information over again. Even though you will be prompted before sharing this information, it could be of a concern if you're worried about your privacy. You must have a profile in order for this option to work.

Use SSL 2.0

SSL is a protocol that authenticates, encrypts, and ensures the integrity of your communications over the Internet. SSL 2.0 is an older version of the protocol that has some known vulnerabilities, and should not be used if at all possible.

Use SSL 3.0

This option enables the most current version, of the SSL protocol to secure your communications.

Use TLS 1.0

Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 is another protocol that provides authentication, encryption, and integrity of your communications over the Internet.

Warn about invalid site certificates (requires restart)

Internet Explorer will issue a warning when viewing data from a web site whose security certificate does not match its Internet address. Certificates help verify if a Web site is safe, so if a certificate does not match the site's address, or it has expired, then the site should not be trusted.

Warn if changing between secure and not secure mode

This option displays a warning when switching between secure (HTTPS) and non-secure sites (HTTP). It is important to enable this option, to help prevent you from mistakenly sending confidential information like your password or credit card number information over a non-secure connection.

Warn if POST submittal is being redirected to a zone that does not permit posts

Warn if forms submittal is being redirected will issue a warning when information submitted from a form is sent to an address different from the one hosting the form. This option helps ensure that you don't send confidential information in a non-secure connection.

Resources used:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1874025,00.asp
http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/ieexpl.html
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/WhatIsClearType.mspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa701134.aspx
http://www.usc.edu/hsc/gcrc/IE_Security.pdf