How to patch IE6. On the menu bar to to Tools / Internet Options. There are many tabs and each has a rather complex list of options.

In the discussions below, go to the tab specified and find the option that is referenced. Turn this option on or off as instructed. The option will tell you if you have to exit and re-enter IE6 for the option to take effect.

• The first item below gives detailed instructions for setting or disabling the option. Most of the items that follow will not be so specific unless it is necessary.
• How do we know what is "necessary"? If we receive a flurry of correspondence from both of you then maybe it was necessary.

Third party extensions - Advanced Options tab, Browsing option.

Third party extensions, also called Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) are such goodies as the tool bars from Google and Yahoo. Some malicious souls like to do a "drive-by download" of their BHO to direct you to their search engine or their site. Some BHOs are just plain nefarious. Turn off this option to troubleshoot problems with Internet Explorer.

• Go to the Advanced tab and look for Browsing. Look for Enable third-party extensions.
• Check this item to allow accessories (BHOs).
• Uncheck this item to disable all features except what was originally built into IE6.
• You will have to exit and re-start IE6 for this option to take effect.

Most of the instructions that follow can be applied in a similar manner. We will not give detailed instructions unless necessary.

Friendly messages - Advanced Options tab, Show Friendly HTTP Error Messages option and Show Friendly URL option.

Microsoft loves to "enhance your Internet experience" by making complex things more friendly. These options, if enabled, could mask some things that you may want to know about. Personally, we would never use these options.

• Friendly URLs will display as "Shortcut to..." instead of the full link information.
• Friendly error messages will give you some information about resolving problems.

Underline Links - Advanced Options tab, Underline Links option.

If this option is off then links will be displayed as the Website designer intended. That could mean that links change color or shift from normal to bold text.

Some people like to have links underlined all the time or whenever they "mouse over" them. This option lets you adjust the way links will display. It could also help you see links that may be masked for whatever purpose.

Searching - Advanced Options tab, Search From the Address Bar option.

This option can prevent you from going to so-called "search" sites that try to sell you everything under the sun under the guise of offering a free search service.

• We recommend choosing the option "Do not search from the Address bar" to avoid a number of minor annoyances and to reduce your chances of picking up "malware" that could damage your system.

It is easy to mistype a site name. Microsoft's attempt to "enhance your Internet experience" will normally take you to the nearest possible site. You may be offered flowers or a book or even the domain name. This can get downright annoying but it is basically harmless.

You may be given the opportunity to search the Web. You will have to re-type everything instead of just correcting your typing error. Most of these so-called searches take you to a commercial site and rarely to anything of value. Some of them take you to sites featuring gambling or pornography.

Some of these sites try to force you to make them your home page or to load software onto your computer. You may have to call in a professional to undo the damage some of these sites can do.

• Any Website that offers to become your home page is not your friend.
• Any Website that tries to force software onto your computer is not your friend. This could be spyware or adware.
• Any Website that offers good and services that you did not request is also not your friend.

Security - Advanced Options tab, Security option.

There are many opinions about these settings. With Service Pack 2 the settings are probably safer than they have ever been. Even so, we still prefer to know if a program we are downloading has a proper signature, or if a site certificate is invalid, or if a form we are submitting is being re-directed. If we find these options off we turn them on again.

Your home page - General tab.

If you have a favorite page you always visit you can make it your home page. Just type the address into the little bar. If the page is currently displayed click the Use Current button. The Default page will take you to the page of Microsoft's choosing.

We like Use Blank option. You get no content. You also don't have to wait for a bunch of ads and content to load.

Security - Security tab.

Service Pack 2 (SP2) for XP corrects a lot of security issues with the browser, including the settings for this tab. Even if you have SP2 installed, check here anyway to ensure there are no potential pitfalls.

In our opinion the options for Active X should be either disabled or set to prompt. That will help reduce the chances of malicious or errant scripts damaging your system. Likewise, we like to see any options for automatically downloading and/or installing programs disabled or at least set to prompt.

Auto-completion of forms - Content tab.

If enabled, auto-completion allows partially typed text to bring up a full word or phrase. There are options as to the type of material that can be automatically completed. This can be convenient for typing Web addresses but we do not like to see this option enabled for user names and passwords.

We may add to this listing from time to time. Please stop back.