All sites start out in the Internet Zone. To add a site to Trusted Sites, go to:
1. IE7 > Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted sites (click the green checkmark image) > Sites (button)
2. Clear (uncheck) the "Require server verification for all sites in this zone" box.
This box appears to have been an afterthought, and when it is checked, it makes the Trusted Sites concept virtually useless. It only allows sites to be Trusted if they a) use secure "https" encryption on their web pages to prevent eavesdropping, and b) present an authorized certificate that guarantees their identity. The result is that only online banks and big commercial sites can ever qualify to be Trusted. https is too high a standard to expect all Trusted Sites to meet.
From the standpoint of personal information protection, https is important, and you should make sure it is used on any site where you enter credit card numbers or other critical personal information. It protects you from data interception and from fraudulent websites pretending to be other websites (phishing).
However, that has nothing to do with what the Security Zones were supposed to be for: keeping malware off your computer. From that standpoint, the more appropriate standard for trust is: "If I lower my security for this website, do I trust it not to install malware?"
3. If you're currently viewing the site you want to add, IE7 automatically puts the URL (web address) in the "Add this website to the zone:" box. (If the address isn't in the box, it means this site is already Trusted.)
If you're not viewing the site at the time you want to add it, manually type or copy-and-paste its URL into the "Add this website..." box. The URL looks like: http://www.websitename.com.
4. When the site's address is in the box, click Add, then Close, then OK.
5. (If you get an error message when trying to add the site, check to see if it is already in Trusted, or maybe in Restricted. A site can only be in one zone.)
6. At the bottom right of the IE7 screen, you'll see the zone has changed from Internet to Trusted Sites.
7. Refresh/Reload the page (F5) to turn on the newly-allowed features.
