Microsoft launches Internet Explorer 8

Internet Explorer 8 is moving out of beta: The final version will be available now. The new browser is packed with new features and improved security features, and early reviews and impressions have been largely positive.

I am sure many of you will want to get your hands on the new browser and maybe some of you are hoping to switch over to IE8 as your browser of choice. Whatever your motivations,

Microsoft is likely to promote IE8's security features, which include anti-phishing, some defence against attempts at malware installation, a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) filter, Domain Highlighting (to expose deceptive URLs) and Data Execution Detection (DEP). Microsoft says: "Internet Explorer 8 offers the best security protections among leading browsers: a study released today by NSS Labs indicates that Internet Explorer 8 blocks two to four times as many malicious sites as other browsers on the market today."

According to this independent but Microsoft-sponsored research, IE8 RC1 was 69% effective at stopping malware before it did any damage, ahead of Firefox 3.07 (30%), Safari 3 (24%) and Chrome (16%).

IE8's speed is likely to provoke debate. It's certainly faster than IE6 and IE7, and it feels snappier than Firefox. But it may not be faster than newer browsers that don't have as many features and add-ons, such as Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari.

Overview:

* Faster Internet Explorer 8 is more responsive with new pages and tabs, opening up fast and reliably. You can now get to the information you care about most, in fewer steps; one click access to your webmail, favorite news sites or other online services.

* Easier Reduce the steps to accomplish many common tasks, and automate your access to real time information updates. You can keep track of your favorite sports team, news, weather with a single click.

* More Private Helps protect your privacy and confidential information where ever you go on the web.

* More Secure Helps protect and stop malicious software from reaching your PC, and makes it easier to detect when a website is an imposter.




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