# About certificates and security alerts

The security settings in Microsoft Internet Explorer can make online shopping and e-mail communication more secure. For example, if you choose to show security alerts, Internet Explorer warns you about possible security risks when you visit a Web page or submit information in a Web form.

To make online shopping and e-mail communication more secure, many Web sites are set up to prevent unauthorized people from seeing the information sent to or from the site. These sites are called “secure” Web sites and use the “https://” protocol. Internet Explorer supports the security rules and standards for exchanging information used by these sites, so you can send personal information to them with confidence.

When you visit a secure Web site, the Web site automatically sends Internet Explorer its “certificate.” A certificate guarantees the security of a Web site. Certificates also ensure that no other Web site can assume the identity of the secure site, so you can feel confident that credit card numbers and other personal information you send over the Internet go to the owner of the certificate — and to no one else.

When Internet Explorer receives a certificate, it verifies that the certificate is valid. If any of the certificate’s information is suspect, Internet Explorer displays a security alert. If all of the certificate’s information is valid, the Lock icon appears on the Status Bar.

Related topics

Showing or hiding security alerts

Changing certificate settings

About security zones

About cookies

Show or hide security alerts

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Security.
3. In the Alerts area, select or clear the check boxes next to the alerts you want to show or hide.

   For help on an option, click .

Related topics

About certificates and security alerts

Change certificate settings

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Security.
3. In the Certificate Authorities area, click the certificate, and then enter new settings.

| Microsoft Internet Explorer cannot verify personal certificates or certificates that verify the identity of a file server on a network.