Protected Mode

• Protected Mode stops unauthorized websites from installing or inserting files on the user's system folders. Placing your browser in protected mode only allows files from distrusted sites to see files in the Temporary Internet Files folder, which is where the cache and cookies are located. This means the distrusted site does not have technical issues working in the browser, but the computer is secured from malicious code.
  
  

Configuration

• Protected mode is turned off by default, so the user must enable protected mode after installing Internet Explorer. The configuration for all IE processes is found in the Properties for the browser. Click "Tools," then click "Internet Options." Click the "Security" tab to view if protected mode is enabled. Check the box to enable protected mode, if it is not enabled.
  
  

Malicious Code

• Protected mode stops malicious viruses from running on a computer. When the browser is set up to allow most programs to run on the computer, your computer is susceptible to rogue programs installing on your computer. The process is how users pick up viruses from simply browsing websites without actually installing software.
  
  

Considerations

• Internal systems at companies with custom browser-based software usually requires access to the main folders and files on the computer. To bypass the protected mode settings, users must set up the company's intranet as a "Trusted" site. Sites set up in the Trusted section bypass any security, so internal code can run without errors.