1. Browser specifications for joining

To join TorridArt.com, or almost any modern website, adult or otherwise, you must have a browser with 128-bit encryption. The lower levels of encryption on older browsers are less secure. For security reasons, our payment processor, CCBill.com, will not allow you to join if you are using an older browser with lower encryption. If you attempt to join with an older browser, you will get a "page not found" error.

Determine your browser's encryption level

Internet Explorer

• On the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window) select Help.
• On the drop-down menu, select About Internet Explorer.
• In the popup window, the information displayed for Cypher Strength is the encryption level. For example, Cypher Strength: 128-bit.

If it does not say 128-bit, then you cannot join TorridArt.com until you upgrade your Internet Explorer.

Mozilla and Firefox

• Click on Edit on the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window).
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• On the Preferences dialog box, click on Privacy & Security.
• Click on SSL.
• Under SSL Protocol Versions, make sure "Enable SSL version 3" is checked.
• Click on Edit Cyphers....
• Select the tab labeled SSL3/TLS.
• Make sure all the boxes labeled "128-bit...." are checked.

If you don't see any boxes labeled "128-bit...." then you cannot join TorridArt.com until you upgrade your Mozilla or Firefox.

AOL

Locate the file Schannel.dll on your hard drive and verify its description:

• If you are using Windows, click on the "Start" button.
• Select Search, For Files Or Folders...
• In the "Search for files or folders named" box, type "Schannel.dll."
• Click "Search Now."
• Right click your mouse on "Schannel.dll" and select "properties."
• Click on the "Version Tab".

If it says something like "PCT/SSL Security Provider US and Canada" then it is a 128-bit SSL encryption. If it says something like "EXPORT" then it is a 40-bit SSL encryption and you will need to upgrade.

Upgrade your browser

The current versions of Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, and other popular browsers have sufficiently high levels of encryption. We strongly recommend that you upgrade your browser to provide the highest level of communications security generally available on the Web.

Internet Explorer

Some older versions of Internet Explorer (versions between 4.0 and 5.01, inclusive) can be upgraded for strong encryption by downloading the high-encryption pack from Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/recommended/128bit/default.asp

If you have a version of Internet Explorer older than version 4.0, you must upgrade before you can join TorridArt.com.

The current version of Internet Explorer can be downloaded at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

Mozilla

The current version of Mozilla can be downloaded at:

http://www.mozilla.org/

Firefox

The current version of Firefox can be downloaded at:

http://www.mozilla.com/

AOL

Go to the homepage of AOL and click the "Join Now" or "Upgrade" graphic found on the page.

http://www.aol.com

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2. Session cookies must be enabled

To enter the member's area of TorridArt.com, your browser must be configured to accept session cookies. Session cookies are not files that are stored on your computer's hard drive. They exist only temporarily in the memory of the web browser and are destroyed as soon as the web browser is closed.

Enable your browser's session cookies:

Internet Explorer

• Click on Tools on the menu bar
• Click on Internet Options
• Click on the Privacy tab
• Set slide bar to Medium or Click Default button
• Click OK to Exit

Firefox

• Click on Tools on the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window).
• Select Options... from the drop-down menu.
• On the Options dialog box, click on Privacy.
• Under Cookies, make sure the "Accept cookies from sites" is checked.

AOL

• Type keyword Preferences
• Click Internet Properties
• Click Security Tab
• Click Custom Level
• Scroll Down to Cookies
• Allow per-session cookies (not stored) should be checked as enabled.
• Click OK to Exit

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3. Display settings

Pictures look a lot better if your monitor is set to 32 bits. Use your operating system's Help to find out how to check and change your display settings.

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4. Automatic Image Resizing

Many browsers have a feature that automatically resizes large images, making them smaller, so they will fit completely within the open browser window. This feature allows you to see the entire picture, even if it is actually much larger than the browser. For viewing pictures on TorridArt.com, Automatic Image Resizing will not affect the image sizes. However, after downloading pictures, the default image viewer on most computers is the browser. If you are looking at downloaded pictures in your browser, it is best to turn off Automatic Image Resizing.

To disable Automatic Image Resizing:

Internet Explorer

• On the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window) select Tools.
• Select Internet Options on the drop-down menu.
• Click the Advanced tab.
• Scroll down to Multimedia.
• Uncheck Enable Automatic Image Resizing.

Firefox

Automatic image resizing is the default for Firefox 2, but the option to turn it off has been removed from the Options dialog box. Not to worry, there is another way!

• In the Firefox address bar, enter about:config and press Enter, or click on the Go button.
• In the Filter field, enter browser.enable_automatic_image_resizing
• There will be one item in the bottom pane. Double click on it to change the value to false.

When you open an image it will now appear full size. The cursor is now the "minus" magnifying glass, so by clicking on the image it will resize to fit the window.

Mozilla

• Click on Edit on the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window).
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• On the Preferences dialog box, click on Appearance.
• At the bottom of the dialog box, uncheck "Resize large images to fit in the browser window."

AOL photo compression

• Go to Settings within your AOL browser.
• Choose Preferences, Internet Properties (www).
• Click the web graphic tab on top of the window and choose 'never compress graphics'.

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5. Proxy servers

It's best to avoid using proxy servers. They often deliver web pages that are days or weeks old, and can create problems with usernames and passwords.

A proxy server is a computer that offers a computer network service to allow clients to make indirect network connections to other network services. The proxy provides the resource either by connecting to the specified server or by serving it from a cache. In some cases, the proxy may alter the client's request or the server's response for various purposes.

To disable Proxy Servers:

Internet Explorer.

• On the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window) select Tools.
• Select Internet Options on the drop-down menu.
• Click the Connections tab.
• Click on LAN Settings....
• Uncheck "Use a proxy server for your LAN."

Mozilla and Firefox

• Click on Edit on the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window).
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• On the Preferences dialog box, click on Advanced (the little triangle).
• Below Advanced. click on Proxies.
• Select "Direct connection to the Internet."

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6. Random usernames and passwords

If you try to hack the site by entering random username and passwords, you will be blocked from the site. Why bother? It's much easier to join.

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7. Automatic Password/Login

Many modern browsers have a feature that remembers your passwords. Additionally, there is a feature to automatically login to a site. These two features can potentially cause login problems by supplying incorrect passwords, which you would not be aware of.

To turn off automatic password/login:

Internet Explorer

• On the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window) select Tools.
• Select Internet Options on the drop-down menu.
• Click the Security tab.
• Click the Internet icon.
• Click the button Custom Level....
• Scroll to User Authentication, Logon at the bottom of the list.
• Select "Prompt for username and password."

Mozilla and Firefox

• Click on Edit on the toolbar (the menu bar at the top of the browser window).
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• On the Preferences dialog box, click on Privacy and Security
• Select Passwords.
• Uncheck "Remember passwords."

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8. Spiders

Spiders are programs that automatically download every single page, image and file on an entire website. Using a spider can greatly affect the download speeds realized by other users of the same site. Therefore, Spiders are absolutely prohibited on TorridArt.com. If you use a spider program on TorridArt.com, you will be blocked.

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9. Trading passwords

The site is protected against password sharing. If you share your password with others you will be blocked in a matter of minutes. It's easier to just join.

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10. Use an image viewer, not your browser

Images on TorridArt.com are in jpeg format. If you download pictures, as most people do, the pictures reside on your hard drive as image files. On older computers, the default way to view jpeg image files as pictures is with the browser. If you would like a more convenient way to look at pictures, we recommend an image viewer. There are many on the market. We recommend Thumbs Plus for Windows.

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