Protect Mode is a feature exclusively available in the version of Internet Explorer 7 built into Windows Vista. IE7 for Windows XP does not have this added functionality and therefore users of the Microsoft browsers designed for XP will not be able to either enable or disable the Protect Mode.

In IE7 on Windows Vista, Protect Mode will manage all security zones with the sole exception of the Trusted sites zone, and it is enabled by default. Via Protect mode, Microsoft has reduced the attack surface and exposure by limiting the processes associated with the browser to low privileges.

Protect Mode is active independent of the privileges of the user that is signed in. Even if the administrator is accessing the web through Internet Explorer 7 on Vista, Protect Mode will still restrict privileges.

The user will have to confirm the launching of all processes that run with elevated privileges outside the restrictions delimited by Protect Mode. Annoyance and repetitive prompting is one of the shortcomings of Protect Mode, the exposure to social engineering schemes is another.

However, the Redmond Company has constructed the browser in such a manner that the user is permitted to disable the Protect Mode. This however is not recommended as the additional security is welcomed. Via Protect Mode, IE7 on Vista will use a custom low privileges cache, temporary folder, cookies and history, dramatically decreasing the chances of a drive-by infection.

However, a certain amount of functionally has to be sacrificed for the sake of the added protection. If you are not prepared to do such a trade-off than navigate to Tools, Internet Options, and the Security tab will permit you to disable Protect Mode.