IE5 on Public PCs

[Robert Sullivan]

>However, I'd still like to talk with anyone who has or is going to deploy
>IE5 on public PCs. I am interested in what security measures other
>libraries are implementing.

I'm looking forward to working with it.  IE5 (as well as IE4 SP2) has some
extra security features (noted at http://www.jsiinc.com/TIP1100/rh1147.htm) and
also lets you customize the toolbar, which will let me get rid of the History
button which bedevils those of us in public access situations.

Those security features appear to give an alternate way of dedicating machines
to specific sites.  You can disable the address bar and lock the browser into a
page - I've done this with IE4 SP2.  Being able to customize the toolbar then
means you can remove the Search button, which was the only other way for
patrons to get out to the net.  This could be much easier to maintain than a
list of proxy settings.

Other general security measures (under NT 4) include sealing off the Options
menu either by blocking inetcpl.cpl (the Internet control panel) or using the
new Registry key which does the same thing, and setting the main MSIE Registry
key to read-only so your settings are fixed where you want them.  I've always
found IE 3 & 4 to be pretty well-behaved about this sort of thing, so I have
high hopes for 5.

Bob Sullivan                               scp_sulli at sals.edu
Schenectady County Public Library (NY)     http://www.scpl.org