In order for most Web-based processes to function as desired, the following recommendations are suggested on the end-user's desktop computer. Note that Microsoft Internet Explorer no longer supports the Macintosh Operating System. Therefore, AIS recommends and fully supports the Safari Web Browser for the Macintosh Operating System.
AIS recommends that all users of Apple's Macintosh Operating Systems utilize the Mac OS X.2, which at present is the latest operating system version, with the Safari 1.2 web browser. Please note that Safari does not support the installation of personally issued Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificates.
In order to verify the version of Safari installed:
- Open an instance of Safari and locate the toolbar on the top of the browser window with the following drop down menus:
Safari | File | Edit | View | History | Bookmarks | Window | Help
- From the Safari toolbar, click Safari, and then click About Safari...
- The version number will be listed in a new window. Verify that the version is Internet Safari 1.2.
If the version is not Safari 1.2, AIS recommends downloading the latest version of the Safari web browser.
Once verified that Safari 1.2 version is running on the desktop system, confirm that the following recommended settings are selected:
- Open an instance of the Safari browser and locate the toolbar on the top of the browser window with the following drop down menus:
Safari | File | Edit | View | History | Bookmarks | Window | Help
- From the Safari toolbar, click Safari, and then click Preferences...
- A new browser window will appear on the screen with the following categories listed on the left. Click on the links below to go directly to the specific category recommendations area within the document.
From the row of categories at the top of the window, click on the General icon. This will display the following six items under the General icon:
- Default Web Browser
- New windows open with
- Home Page
- Save downloaded files to
- Remove download list items
- Open links from applications
- For "Default Web Browser:"
- Verify that Safari (1.2) is selected
- For "New windows open with:"
- For "Save downloaded files to:"
- For "Remove download list items:"
- For "Open links from applications:"
- Select in a new window radion button
The Appearance icon will display the following three items:
- Standard Font
- Fixed-width font
- Default Encoding
- For "Standard Font"
- Verify that Times 16 is selected
- Verify that Courier 13 is selected
- Verify that the box entitled Display images when the page opens is checked
- For "Default Encoding"
- Verify that Western (ISO Latin 1) is selected
AIS has no specific recommendations for the Bookmarks icon.
AIS has no specific recommendations for the Tabs icon.
- For "AutoFill Web Forms"
- Verify that Using info from my Address Book Card is unchecked
- Verify that User Names and Passwords is unchecked
- Verify that Other forms is unchecked
The Security icon will display the following two items:
- Web Content
- Accept Cookies
- For "Web Content"
- Verify that Enable plug-ins is checked
- Verify that Enable Java is checked
- Verify that Enable JavaScript is checked
- Verify that Block pop-up windows is not checked.
Popup windows need to be enabled for use with various AIS applications including: ePay, eTrac and Compliance Education Certification
- Click on the Show Cookies button
- Click the Remove All button to clear all cookies
- Click the Remove All button again
- Click on the Done button to register your selection
This task should be performed daily because stored files and cookies degrade the performance of your computer and could pose a privacy and / or security risk.
AIS has no specific recommendations for the Advanced icon.
When finished with all of the categories and the settings contained within them, simply close the Preferences window to register the changes.
To guarantee a better performance from the Safari web browser, AIS recommends completing the following two tasks at least once a week.
- The first task is to empty your cache by selecting “Empty Cache” from the Safari menu.
- The second task is to clear your browser history by selecting “Clear History” from the History menu.
