# Security preferences

The security preferences let you manage your certificates, fine-tune security protocols, and be warned in insecure situations. The default settings work well for normal browsing. Only advanced users with special needs and technical understanding should need to modify these settings.

To accept cookies, check the Cookies/Accept box.

To enable Javascript (ECMAScript), check the Enable Javascript box.

To enable the different encryption levels check the appropriate box.

To get a warning dialog each time you move from a secure connection to an insecure one, or vice versa, check the Security/Issue security warnings box. To disable these warnings leave the box unchecked.

The OK button saves your settings and closes the security preferences dialog. The Apply button saves your settings. The Reset button undoes any changes you have made.

To go directly to the other preference settings you can click the < and > buttons.

## Certificates

Personal certificates are used to identify you as the genuine user of your secure Web services, while certificate authorities are used to certify a Web service as secure for you to use. Most certificate authorities you will ever need are pre-installed with Opera, and personal certificates are automatically installed when required by a secure Web site. These settings are here should you want to delete or fine-tune your certificates.

To view the list of personal certificates click the Personal button. To view the list of authorities click the Authorities button.

You can set up Opera so that you have to type in a password when using certificates. This will effectively prevent other people from using your certificates, as long as you select a good password and don't write it down anywhere. To set your password, click the Set password button.

## Encryption level

Opera PDA provides security through SSL 1.0, 3.0 TLS 1.0

The Document security status in Opera is represented by an icon located at the beginning of the button bar. Clicking the icon will report the current encryption level.

Icon | Text | Status
--- | --- | ---
| No Security | Document is without any encryption or authentication.
| Low Security | Vulnerable keys methods with 32-bit to 64-bit encryption.
| Medium Security | 64-bit to 96-bit encryption, as well as all SSL version 2 encryption methods with 64-bit keys or more. SSL v2 will be phased out due to certain weaknesses within the next few years.
| High Security | 96-bit encryption and above (up to 128-bits), with the exception of SSL version 2 methods.

## Glossary

SSL | Secure Socket Layer is a protocol that is used to communicate over an encrypted connection, and to authenticate none, one or both of the participants.
TLS | Transport Layer Security is successor of SSL, and offers up to 128 bit encryption. The actual strength of the encryption is "decided" by the site itself, but many servers are beginning to use this advanced protocol.