Abstract: A computer based system and method of providing security when receiving digital data at a client computer from one or more Web sites is disclosed. The method includes receiving security configuration information that specifies multiple security zones, each zone corresponding to a set of Web sites. The security configuration information also includes information specifying a set of security settings corresponding to each security zone. A security setting is a specification indicating an action to perform when a Web page from one of the security zones requests a protected operation to be performed. During a Web browsing session, the mechanism of the invention determines the security zone corresponding to the Web site currently being browsed.