What Does Close All Browser Windows Mean?

"Close all open browser windows" is an instruction from a software application telling you to close all windows and tabs that you have open within your Internet browser, and in some cases even the Internet browser program itself. Just closing the Internet browser may not close all of the open windows in certain browsers.

There are a few different ways to close windows, and the instructions vary depending on which Internet browser you are using. The basic installation of Mozilla Firefox does not have a way to close all of the open windows or tabs. Users can click the "X" at the right corner of each tab and close each window individually. Additionally, an add-on is available through Mozilla that will allow users to close all open windows and tabs with one click (see Resources). When users of Internet Explorer click the "X" at the top right of the screen to close the application, they are asked if they would like to close all open windows. When the user clicks "Yes," all of the open windows close along with the application.

Software applications request that you close all windows in order to protect you from any personal information being transmitted over the Internet. When a software application is undergoing a download from the Internet, any websites containing personal information, such as your banking, credit card or personal information, could potentially be accessed by hackers.