Some times I find my self working on a machine with administrative rights but Internet Explorer Security tab has been removed by a Group Policy.
For testing only I really need to add an address to the trusted zoned.
Because of my local administrative rights I am able to temporary remove the policy until next time the GPO will be applied.
Go to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftInternet ExplorerControl PanelSecurityTab
And change the value from 1 to 0
Then go to Internet Options in Internet Explorer again and you should see the security tab.
If the policy has been defined on user level instead of computer level, you will find the registry entry here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftInternet ExplorerControl PanelSecurityTab
The next thing you might find is that you are unable to add new sites because the add button is grayed out.
Go to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet SettingsSecurity_zones_map_edit
And change the value from 1 to 0
And the add button is back:
In some situations Custom Level may also be grayed out and you are unable to change settings.
Go to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet SettingsSecurity_options_edit
And change the value from 1 to 0
And Custom level is available again (but remember only temporary).
The GPO settings in play here are:
Computer ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsInternet ExplorerInternet Control PanelDisable the Security page
or
User ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsInternet ExplorerInternet Control PanelDisable the Security page
Computer ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsInternet ExplorerSecurity Zones: Do not allow users to add/delete sites
Computer ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsInternet ExplorerSecurity Zones: Do not allow users to change policies
