Additional Information
Makes your web browsing faster, safer and easier
| Latest Version | Internet Explorer 8.0 (XP) |
| Requirements |
Windows XP (32-bit) |
| Updated | June 24, 2023 |
| Author | Microsoft Corporation |
| Category | Browsers and Plugins |
| License | Freeware |
| Language | English |
| Download | 167 |
Overview
Internet Explorer is the world’s most famous web browser and one of the rare pieces of software that managed to completely change the way we interact and communicate one with another. Originally released in 1995, this browser managed to achieve almost complete worldwide dominance with a 95% usage share during 2002 and 2003.
⚠ Note: This product is not developed anymore and might not function properly.
If you are looking for alternatives, we recommend you to download Edge, Opera or Brave Browser.
Since then its popularity was greatly lessened by the pressure that was brought with the releases and steady evolutions of the browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
In 2014, more than 19 years after its release, Internet Explorer held a respectable second place in the worldwide usage of internet browsers with an 18% claim on browser market (far behind Chrome who holds 42% and beating Firefox with its 15%). During its history, Internet Explorer went through its ups and downs, at one time representing the golden standard of online browsing, and then very quickly dropping far behind its competition.
After years on the market and pressure from the competition, the modern version of the browser represents a very competitive and highly usable software package that was completely streamlined for a new age of internet usage that is focused on speed, stability, and perfect compatibility with modern interactive and social-oriented web content. Anyone who tries InternetExplorer today will be welcomed with a streamlined interface, fewer configuration options, intuitive navigation, and numerous integrated features that will make browsing faster and secure.
This version, which runs on Windows XP comes with full ActiveX elements support and improved security features. It also supports:
⚠ Note: This product is not developed anymore and might not function properly.
If you are looking for alternatives, we recommend you to download Edge, Opera or Brave Browser.
Since then its popularity was greatly lessened by the pressure that was brought with the releases and steady evolutions of the browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
In 2014, more than 19 years after its release, Internet Explorer held a respectable second place in the worldwide usage of internet browsers with an 18% claim on browser market (far behind Chrome who holds 42% and beating Firefox with its 15%). During its history, Internet Explorer went through its ups and downs, at one time representing the golden standard of online browsing, and then very quickly dropping far behind its competition.
After years on the market and pressure from the competition, the modern version of the browser represents a very competitive and highly usable software package that was completely streamlined for a new age of internet usage that is focused on speed, stability, and perfect compatibility with modern interactive and social-oriented web content. Anyone who tries InternetExplorer today will be welcomed with a streamlined interface, fewer configuration options, intuitive navigation, and numerous integrated features that will make browsing faster and secure.
This version, which runs on Windows XP comes with full ActiveX elements support and improved security features. It also supports:
- Accelerators - quick access to web services. E.g. On a restaurant web site, click within the page to get maps, news, information, or share it on Facebook
- Web Slice - keep up with changes to the sites you care about most
- Compatibility View - shows the page as in IE7
- Search Suggestions - get suggested content as you type
- New Tab features - reopen accidentally closed tabs, and group related tabs together with color codes
- Tab isolation - prevents a faulty website from crashing the whole browser. Only the tab with the error will close
- InPrivate Browsing - browse the web without saving any data (like passwords, cookies, browsing history, etc.)
- SmartScreen Filter - protects you against the installation of malware, or malicious software which can compromise your data, privacy, and identity, and also damaging your computer and valuable data
Internet Explorer 7 and 8 Overview
Microsoft has surprised the world with a brand new release of Internet Explorer, just when people thought they wouldn't see another version for a long time. Despite many users turning to alternatives like Firefox due to Microsoft's slow updates, the browser giant is determined to reclaim its dominance. The new version, IE 7 and 8, offers a streamlined interface with a stripped-down menu bar and compact icons at the top-right.
It introduces tabbed browsing, including a 'New tab' button and a useful 'Quick Tabs' feature that displays thumbnail previews of all open tabs. Unlike Firefox, IE 7 provides a close button on each tab and allows users to save groups of tabs as their homepage. The browser also includes a print preview tool that adjusts pages for different paper sizes.
IE 7 has made improvements to its integration of RSS. When encountering a site that supports RSS, a characteristic orange icon appears in the toolbar. Clicking on it leads to a page displaying all the feeds for that website. Users can easily subscribe to a feed by clicking on the "subscribe to this feed" link or the small star icon. However, unlike Firefox, IE 7 does not offer a dropdown view of each item in a feed. The Favorites Center, accessed by clicking on the big star icon, is divided into favorites, feeds, and history.
In terms of security, IE has often been criticized, but version 7 addresses some of the concerns. It includes a pop-up blocker and an anti-phishing filter. However, during testing, the filter failed to detect most phishing sites, which was disappointing. On the positive side, IE 7 incorporates security protocols SSL 2.0 and 3.0 and TLS 1.0, matching Firefox's capabilities. Despite these improvements, IE still has its flaws. Like Firefox, it fails to pass the Acid2 Test and does not fully support the latest standards. Users may experience lag when opening new tabs, accessing the tools section, or applying new settings.
While there are search bar providers and add-ons available from the Microsoft website, their number is significantly fewer compared to the extensive collection of Mozilla extensions for Firefox. Furthermore, IE 7 is limited to users with XP SP2, and a peculiar requirement is to disable antivirus software and restart the computer for proper installation.
PROS
- Streamlined interface: IE 7/8 offers a stripped-back menu bar and compact icons, providing a cleaner and more intuitive browsing experience.
- Tabbed browsing: Unlike previous versions, IE 7/8 introduces tabbed browsing, allowing users to open multiple web pages within a single window.
- Quick Tabs feature: It includes a "Quick Tabs" button that displays thumbnail previews of all open tabs in one screen, making it easier to navigate between them.
- Print preview tool: It offers a print preview tool that adjusts the page according to your paper size, allowing for better control when printing web content.
- RSS integration: It integrates RSS feeds, providing a convenient way to subscribe to and view updates from websites that support RSS.
- Security enhancements: It includes a pop-up blocker and an anti-phishing filter, helping to protect users from unwanted ads and malicious websites.
- Compatibility with security protocols: It supports security protocols SSL 2.0 and 3.0 and TLS 1.0, ensuring secure communication with websites.
CONS
- Lack of standards support: IE 7/8 does not fully support the latest web standards and fails to pass the Acid2 Test, which can lead to compatibility issues with certain websites and web applications.
- Performance issues: Users may experience lag and slower performance when opening new tabs, accessing the tools section, or applying new settings in the app.
- Limited add-ons and extensions: Compared to alternative browsers like Firefox, the number of available search bar providers and add-ons for IE 7 is relatively limited.
- Limited availability: The program is only compatible with Windows XP SP2, excluding users on other operating systems.
- Installation requirements: Users may need to disable antivirus software and restart their computer to properly install IE 7, which can be inconvenient.
- Ineffective anti-phishing filter: The anti-phishing filter in IE 7/8 may not effectively detect and report phishing sites, potentially leaving users vulnerable to online scams.
