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Make IE8 more secure?

Did you know that Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 could be made more secure than how it ships by default? It's true. For a variety of reasons, Microsoft ships IE8 in a default configuration that leaves it fairly vulnerable to certain attacks from malicious web sites. In other words, the browser's attack surface (the number of areas where it and its plugins are vulnerable) could be made smaller (a smaller attack surface is better). This simple utility will adjust settings and reduce the attack surface of IE8. By locking down or 'hardening' IE8 you can reduce the likelihood of a successful attack (exploit) against your PC.

What does the tool do?

The IE8 hardening tool works by changing the values for a couple dozen different settings that control how IE8 operates and what is permitted. The tool primarily disables code execution via ActiveX and JavaScript. These changes are based upon recommendations from Microsoft, as documented in the recently published 'Internet Explorer 8 Desktop Security Guide.'

Warning

Some of the settings implemented by the IE8 Hardening Tool may impede or prevent the operation of certain fuctions and applications. Applications that require less secure settings may not run properly. These changes can be reset to the defaults by simply uninstalling the tool via Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.

See the NSS Labs IE8 Hardening Tool Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.

Download Now

To access this beta tool, please login or register first. Download the free IE8 Hardening Tool (beta) now.