Many Internet services use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) connections to encrypt data that travels between your computer and their server. This week, Stacy Reed shows us Google's encrypted web search and will show how to make it your default search engine in Firefox's search box.

These days security is a big issue, especially when it comes to the Internet. You've got personal information, financial information and all kinds of other data that you don't want other people getting their hands on. So it is with email too. That's why Gmail provides an option of using https and

boosting your email security

. It's easy to do and we'll show you how in this tutorial!

IronKey claims itself as "the world's most

secure portable solution for data, desktops and identity.

" If you've ever lost a USB key, you know how upsetting it can be. All those pictures, MP3s, projects, documents and so on, gone. If you've ever

lost a USB key

that contains more than just memories though, you know the sense of panic. Passwords, sensitive data, perhaps bank statements, credit card transaction receipts and more. IronKey sets your mind at ease by keeping your sensitive data on lockdown.

Today it seems we have a

password, PIN, or passcode

to access just about everything. From banking to shopping we need to remember an ever increasing number of these things to get through our day. So, today we're going to look at

five free password managers

that make it easy to

choose secure passwords

and just as easy to

remember all those passwords

. And they're all

free Windows downloads

to boot.

The latest version of

Internet Explorer

,

Internet Explorer 8

, is being hailed as a must-have download for Windows users. It features

private browsing

, a new and very handy feature called Web Slices and much, much more. Michael "Doc" Callahan gives the guided tour in this 10-part series.

There may be times when you'd like to surf the Web and not have "tracks" left behind. Say you're shopping for a special present for a loved one. You may not want them seeing that you were on certain Web pages. For times like these Internet Explorer 8 offers InPrivate Browsing. In this mode IE8 doesn't save cookies, history, temporary Internet files, and other such online tracks.

There are times when you have files that you want to protect. Files that you don't want others to have easy access to. For files like that you may want an encrypted disk. You have software right on your Mac that will let you make an encrypted disk in just minutes.

A strong password is the first step in making sure you and your personal information stay safe online. We'll show you how to choose a good, strong password that will be very difficult to "crack" but still easy for you to remember. Here are some practical password-creation tips you can start using right away.

The latest version of Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 8, is being hailed as a must-have download for Windows users. It features private browsing, a new and very handy feature called Web Slices and much, much more. Michael "Doc" Callahan gives the guided tour in this 10-part series.