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Internet Browser Updates

Your Internet browser is your entry point to the World Wide Web. It can also be an entry point onto your PC for hackers, scammers, and other on-line criminals who want to do you harm. You can prevent their bad attacks by keeping your browser up-to-date and fully patched.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte requires the use of Internet Explorer for some of its web based applications. These include: 49er Express, the student e-mail system, Banner Self-Service, among others.

Housing & Residence Life systems are browser independent and platform agnostic. This means that they should run on any of the browsers listed below, provided that they are up-to-date and fully patched. If you encounter a problem while using one of our sites or systems, please let us know so that we can fix it!

Software Solutions

Download Microsoft Internet Explorer. <CLICK HERE>
Download Mozilla's Firefox Internet Browser. <CLICK HERE>
Download the Netscape Navigator Browser. <CLICK HERE>
Download the Opera Internet Browser. <CLICK HERE>

Secure It

To make your web browsing as secure as possible, consider the items listed below. Additionally, we have provided detailed instructions in the PDF section at the bottom of this page on how to fully secure Internet Explorer, Firefox, and the Macintosh Safari browsers.

Clear the Cache and History
Clearing the cache and history in your browser on a weekly basis is a good habit to get into as it helps to remove some types of malware (or their payloads) that wedge themselves into this area of your computer. In some browsers, you can set the cache and history to clear themselves automatically.

Delete Unused, Old, or Unknown Source Cookies
While cookies are nifty little tools that allow you to store passwords and user IDs so you can jump right onto your favorite website (that's how those "Remember Me" check boxes work), they are also used by companies to track your web surfing habits. Companies then collect this information when you return to their website and use it to improve their sites or to sell you things. As with any technology these days, bad people have also learned how to harvest this information, including your IDs and passwords, and so it is a good idea to go into the cookies folder on your hard drive and periodically clear them out - saving only the ones you absolutely need to keep.

Clear out the Temporary Internet Files Folder
While you surf the web, your browser will automatically download items to a temporary location on your hard drive to help "speed up" the rate at which web pages appear. While this gives you the appearance of a blazing fast Internet connection, it has also opened up a convenient place for on-line crooks to store malware. We recommend that while you are in your browser's settings window, you go ahead and use the built-in feature to empty out the temporary folder and make sure you haven't become a storage site for the bad guys.

Turn On the Built-In Pop-Up Blocker
We encourage the use of the built-in pop-up blockers that come with the major web browsers today. We do NOT however, encourage the use of pop-up blockers or toolbars that come from third parties (like Yahoo! or Google). While there is nothing bad about these toolbars, they sometimes create more havoc and trouble than they are worth. When using the built-in pop-up blockers, be sure you learn how to "trust" certain sites (like UNC Charlotte's 49er Express), because these sites rely on pop-ups to work properly. If you can't trust sites like this, you may not be able to conduct business on them (like registering for class!).

PDF Resources

These instructions are from U.S. CERT.


Secure My PC Home PC Readiness Checklist Routine Maintenance Log Mobile Device Users Test Your Knowledge Anti-Virus Software Anti-Spyware Software Firewall Software Windows Updates Macintosh Updates Office Software Internet Browsers Music Software Instant Messengers SPAM - SPIT - SPIM Phishing & Spoofing Identity Theft Malware E-Mail Security File Sharing System Back-Up	Internet Browser Updates Your Internet browser is your entry point to the World Wide Web. It can also be an entry point onto your PC for hackers, scammers, and other on-line criminals who want to do you harm. You can prevent their bad attacks by keeping your browser up-to-date and fully patched. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte requires the use of Internet Explorer for some of its web based applications. These include: 49er Express, the student e-mail system, Banner Self-Service, among others. Housing & Residence Life systems are browser independent and platform agnostic. This means that they should run on any of the browsers listed below, provided that they are up-to-date and fully patched. If you encounter a problem while using one of our sites or systems, please let us know so that we can fix it! Software Solutions Download Microsoft Internet Explorer. <CLICK HERE> Download Mozilla's Firefox Internet Browser. <CLICK HERE> Download the Netscape Navigator Browser. <CLICK HERE> Download the Opera Internet Browser. <CLICK HERE> Secure It To make your web browsing as secure as possible, consider the items listed below. Additionally, we have provided detailed instructions in the PDF section at the bottom of this page on how to fully secure Internet Explorer, Firefox, and the Macintosh Safari browsers. Clear the Cache and History Clearing the cache and history in your browser on a weekly basis is a good habit to get into as it helps to remove some types of malware (or their payloads) that wedge themselves into this area of your computer. In some browsers, you can set the cache and history to clear themselves automatically. Delete Unused, Old, or Unknown Source Cookies While cookies are nifty little tools that allow you to store passwords and user IDs so you can jump right onto your favorite website (that's how those "Remember Me" check boxes work), they are also used by companies to track your web surfing habits. Companies then collect this information when you return to their website and use it to improve their sites or to sell you things. As with any technology these days, bad people have also learned how to harvest this information, including your IDs and passwords, and so it is a good idea to go into the cookies folder on your hard drive and periodically clear them out - saving only the ones you absolutely need to keep. Clear out the Temporary Internet Files Folder While you surf the web, your browser will automatically download items to a temporary location on your hard drive to help "speed up" the rate at which web pages appear. While this gives you the appearance of a blazing fast Internet connection, it has also opened up a convenient place for on-line crooks to store malware. We recommend that while you are in your browser's settings window, you go ahead and use the built-in feature to empty out the temporary folder and make sure you haven't become a storage site for the bad guys. Turn On the Built-In Pop-Up Blocker We encourage the use of the built-in pop-up blockers that come with the major web browsers today. We do NOT however, encourage the use of pop-up blockers or toolbars that come from third parties (like Yahoo! or Google). While there is nothing bad about these toolbars, they sometimes create more havoc and trouble than they are worth. When using the built-in pop-up blockers, be sure you learn how to "trust" certain sites (like UNC Charlotte's 49er Express), because these sites rely on pop-ups to work properly. If you can't trust sites like this, you may not be able to conduct business on them (like registering for class!). PDF Resources How to Secure Internet Explorer How to Secure Firefox How to Secure the Apple Macintosh's Safari These instructions are from U.S. CERT.