The new version of Microsoft’s browser Internet Explorer, IE7, was recently released for developer beta testing. Although the beta version of the Web browser is not intended for widespread consumer use, it offers some insight into the features and functionality of the future finished browser.
IE7 Web Browser Interface Innovations
Internet Explorer 7 includes many new features geared toward improved usability and browsing flexibility, including:
- Tabbed Browser Windows: A feature made popular by the Safari, Opera and FireFox browsers will be included in IE7. Tabbed browser windows remove clutter from the task bar and simplify navigation by clustering open windows into a series of tabs displayed under the menu bar. This feature can be turned off for the sake of interface flexibility.
- Relocated Search Box: The search box has been relocated to the right of the address bar, making it easier for users to find.
- RSS Feed Support: IE7 includes the ability to view RSS feeds within the browser, and highlights the existence of a site’s RSS feeds with a small icon in the toolbar. This icon remains grayed out if a particular site does not offer an RSS feed, but turns red and becomes clickable if it does. Clicking on the icon will navigate directly to the feed in the same browser window.
IE7 Browser Security Features
The release of IE7 was initially driven by security concerns, as previous versions of IE are the primary source of maliciously exploited browser vulnerabilities. IE7, however, proves that Microsoft has recommitted itself to providing a secure browsing experience for its users with the following features:
- Phishing Filter: The Phishing filter alerts users when they are visiting a “Phishing” site, which is a site that exists to retrieve a user’s personal information for malicious ends, and is visually similar to some well-known Web service. IE7 compares sites to Microsoft’s database of known Phishing sites, and displays an icon and a warning message if a user navigates to one.
- Dynamic Security Protection: The internal architecture of the Web browser has been simplified to better protect against malware.
