Ask Leo!: Browsers en-us 2008 Leo A. Notenboom and Puget Sound Software, LLC Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:58:42 -08:00 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:58:42 -08:00 720 http://ask-leo.com/images/altile144.jpg Ask Leo! http://ask-leo.com 140 140 Tech Questions? Get Answers! Ask Leo! How do I get rid of toolbars in my browser? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_get_rid_of_toolbars_in_my_browser.html I have 7 different tool bars - I only want to keep Google and Yahoo. How do I get rid of the others? I'm a new user so please tell me the simplest way to do it.

]]> There are two ways to do it, and both are pretty simple.

There's a third way that's perhaps the most appropriate, and also very simple, but most people don't think to do it.

That's never to allow the toolbars to install in the first place.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:58:42 -08:00 Technology Is it safe to let my browser remember passwords? http://ask-leo.com/is_it_safe_to_let_my_browser_remember_passwords.html If I consider my computer to be physically secure, am I reasonably safe letting Firefox remember my passwords (without using a master password), or am I being incredibly stupid to do that? What if I do use a master password?

]]> I certainly wouldn't say incredibly stupid at all. But it's definitely an additional risk, and one that needs to be understood.

But you're correct in considering physical security first. The problem is that people often assume they have more physical security than they actually do.

And master passwords? Well, they're nice, but they too have their limitations.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:03:46 -08:00 Technology How do I delete cookies? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_delete_cookies.html My computer saves my email password. How can I make it to forget the password. i.e. How can I delete the cookies?

]]> Most saved passwords are saved as cookies; it's by far the most common approach. Web sites do this to avoid forcing you to re-login for every page you visit, or longer as a convenience if you tell it to "save password".

How you delete cookies depends on your browser. I'll walk you through both Firefox and Internet Explorer 8.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:50:03 -08:00 Technology How do I change my browser home page back to what I want? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_change_my_browser_home_page_back_to_what_i_want.html I upgraded Internet Explorer to Version 8, and I've always had MSN as my homepage. Now, suddenly, the MSN homepage has changed to something called "Preview MSN". It has a white background. I hate it. Can I change it back, and if so, how do I do it?

]]> It's actually fairly annoying, but many software installation programs these days will offer to change your browser's home page "for you" to whatever they think it should be. Sometimes they don't even ask and just do it, which to me is simply unacceptable.

Since I create and use my own custom browser home page, it's more than a little annoying when it gets changed out from underneath me.

So yes, let me show you how to reset it, and throw out a tip or two to avoid it being changed again "for you" in the future.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:42:07 -08:00 Technology How do I stop QuickTime from playing audio files in my browser? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_stop_quicktime_from_playing_audio_files_in_my_browser.html Why does it seem that quick time takes over playback of MP3s in Internet explorer? This phenomenon appeared after I installed iTunes. instead of my default media player, quick time seems to want to play my MP3s instead of my default. The only way the default works is if I right-click and download first.

]]> This is one of the Most Annoying Things Ever.

Can you tell I've experienced this?

Let's look at what's happening, and what to do.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:51:00 -08:00 Technology