(Un)-Trusted Root Certification Authorities

[Nikki]

A link I was following at http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm at sub
heading "Recommended Minimal Security Settings", attempts to explain that to
help secure IE one should :

"Click on the "Content" tab, Click the "Publishers" button
Highlight and click "Remove" any unknowns, click Ok
Why is this so important? [read this]
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/restricted.htm#Why"

I think I understand after reading the links is that they are saying that
some entries listed in the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" or the
"Trusted Publishers" could compromise my computer by allowing downloads and
installs without prompts for permission. They seem to recommend removal of
anything "unknown".

I have over 100 items listed in "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" and
my problem is I do not know how or where these entries came from. Some may
have been there when I got my computer new. Others may have gotten
installed at some unknown time later. Some in the list seem to come from
other countries.

My problem is that almost all items listed are unfamiliar or unknown to me.
I do not understand what they are for other than what was described in the
above links. I would simply be inclined to delete most or all of them if I
understand the admonitions of links above correctly. I would like to know
what the likely consequences of deleting all of the items in the "Trusted
Root Certification Authorities" would be before I delete all the items
listed.

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Nikki,
By default you should not have anything listed under "Trusted Publishers"
You can ignore the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" section.