Safe browsing in Windows 8

One of the priorities of Windows 8 is to make it easier for the user to use different services on the Internet, such as email, shared folders , online images, social networks, among others. In earlier versions of Windows and other operating systems, to access all these services, users usually do so through the browser, typing the address of the website they want to use.

In Windows 8, it changes the way users use the computer, requiring less use of the browser to access the services that are used most frequently and that can now be used thanks to applications in the Windows Store.This new way of interacting allows the use of such services to be more productive and, at the same time, increases the level of security for users during the time they spend connected to the Internet

By using your Internet browser less, for example, you reduce the chance that a user will mistype a website address and land on a malicious page designed to steal data or install malware in the teams of the unsuspecting visitors. But it is not completely reduced, but rather the Internet browser continues to be one of the main protagonists, which is why the renewed Internet Explorer 10 can also be found in Windows 8.

To browse safely with Internet Explorer 10 in Windows 8, certain system features can be activated. Next, we will mention the most important ones:

Parental control

For the little ones in the house, the parental control system can be activated, through which adults can monitor their activity on the computer and control the web pages and applications they access.The system allows you to filter pages to which you want to prevent access, also limit the time of use during the week, see the time spent on each site and application, among other information that is perfect for parents to control that their children make safe use of the computer.

Safe Search

The “Safe Search” is a functionality used to filter adult content in the search results displayed by Bing, the Microsoft search engine. You can configure 3 levels of results, depending on which you want to prevent from being displayed: Strict (filter text, images and adult videos from the search results); Moderate (filter adult images and videos but not text from search results); and Off (do not filter adult content from search results). In case any inappropriate content is displayed in any search, it can be reported to Microsoft so that their engineers can filter it in the future.

InPrivate Browsing

InPrivate Browsing prevents Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This means that cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data will be deleted by the browser when the browser window is closed. Toolbars and extensions in this navigation mode remain disabled by default.

Tracking protection

“Tracking Protection” is a feature that sends a signal to Internet sites that you do not want to collect data about your visit and that are used to track Internet browsing. The response or interpretation of the "Do Not Track" request depends on the privacy practices of the websites you choose to visit, as it is a standard that is being implemented on the web.

Verifying the authenticity of websites with SmartScreen Filter

There is a rule when browsing the Internet that says that if a site seems suspicious, it is best not to download anything from there, or provide personal data of any kind, except those that have to do with credit cards or any bank account. However, sometimes it is difficult to know if a site is legitimate or not, so to help the user Microsoft has created SmartScreen, a functionality that helps identify sites created to deceive the user by impersonating legitimate ones such as banks.

Activate Windows Defender

Activating Windows Defender allows you to navigate safely, through a system of color codes as a traffic light to show the security status of your computer. If Windows Defender detects a suspicious app or other unknown software program, it will check it against Microsoft's database to make sure it isn't potentially harmful.Windows Defender automatically keeps track of known malicious software, but you can also get updated lists at any time.

Update the system via Windows Update

Keeping the system up-to-date is a very important task, since its updates make it possible to correct security holes that may arise over time and add new functionalities, also in terms of security. An up-to-date system is a guarantee of protection when working or enjoying a moment of leisure connected to the Internet.

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