Making IE/OE safe

What configurations should be made to make IE/OE as safe as possible to use and yet at the same time not completely hog-tie it so it becomes nearly useless as a browser suite?

 

How to surf the Internet more safely with Internet Explorer - HelpWithWindows.com
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/surf-safe.html
I use Internet Explorer 5 Power Tweaks Web Accessory, but it works fine on Internet Explorer 6.
ScreenShot IE5PowerTweak

IE Safe Browsing
http://hacker-eliminator.com/safebrowsing.html

Browser Security and How To Kill Popups
http://bshagnasty.home.att.net/browsersettings.htm

The Internet Explorer Settings
http://www.tpsconsulting.com/tips4.htm

Privacy-Security (UIUC)- no frames
http://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main-nf.htm

Internet Explorer Security Zones by Scott Schnoll
http://www.nwnetworks.com/iezones.htm

I.E. OPTIONS
http://friendpages.com/cgi-bin/public/pages/cover.cgi?pageid=ieoptions

TWiki . Bio . OutlookExpressSecurity
http://web.brandeis.edu/pages/view/Bio/OutlookExpressSecurity

 

James--I did not read all the links that Flatiron2 provided, so do not know if having a HOSTS file was suggested.
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/
and you can populate it with the list offered here
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Also you should have a firewall, a spyware detector and a spyware blocker.
In order, I suggest
ZoneAlarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conte...sp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=dbtopnav_zass
If you have WinXP, you probably already have Windows Firewall. Turn it off after you install Zone Alarm. (Control Panel|Windows Firewall)
(Also suggest you disconnect from the internet after downloading ZA but before disabling Windows Firewall and installing ZA.)
AdAware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
SpywareBlaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
all are free

 

...just not worth it... but thanks

Interesting. Some of the setting suggestions were contradicted from site to site. But I appreciate your taking the time, gentlemen, to give me this information. After spending some time going over it all, I've concluded that IE is simply too difficult to set up to behave in a reasonably secure manner and yet leave me enough freedom to enjoy the internet. So... I'm heading back to Firefox and Opera. My reasons for wanting to re-activate IE are a bit personal so there's no point in relating them. At this time.. it's just not worth the hassle. Thanks anyway.

 

James--Certain sites, like Windows Update, require IE, though I believe a third party has some patch now that permits access for Firefox. (Perhaps here http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/ )
While I can certainly understand your confusion about the different suggestions that were given, IE really is not that hard to protect. The main source of problems in IE is allowing "ActiveX controls and plugins to run ". If you set that to Disable in Internet Sites|Security tab|Custom Level, and set other categories involving "Unsigned" (or not signed) or "not marked as safe" to Disable, you will eliminate most problems. (Being able to run ActiveX is the main security difference between IE and Firefox.)
When, in IE, you come across a site that needs ActiveX to run, you can put it in your Trusted Sites, if you in fact trust it to not give you any malware.
There have been many articles lacking that Firefox, as it becomes more popular is also becoming the target of more hackers. And so far, the Firefox people, are slower to react to security threats than IE.
Of course, it is your choice, but I thought I would suggest you reconsider before giving up on IE.
In any event, I still suggest the programs I mentioned regardless of browser.
P.S. You have not told us what version of Windows you use. If WinXP SP2, many of IE's security holes are plugged by default.