Internet Explorer v7

In this Blog I am going to cover 3 of the new features available in IE v7; Tabs, Phishing Filter and Quick Search. 

This new release will be sent out as a Windows update in the next few months. 

For further information on this update, including how to prevent the automatic update from occurring, what the supported O/S’ are etc. See:  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx?mg_ID=10010#ie7rss

Tabs
Microsoft have picked up on the tab user function available in other browser applications, and have integrated it in with the new IE release.

As a user that hasn’t used this functionality in a browser before, I can say that it is very handy, and it makes it difficult to go back to IE v6!

As can be seen in Fig. 1 multiple internet pages can be opened in the one browser application, by the use of tabs.

Fig. 1 Example of the multiple tab functionality in IE v7

(Multiple pages are opened by using Ctrl/left click to click on multiple URLs.)

Additionally, to make it easier for users to view all of their open web sites, in order to decide which one to maximise, Microsoft have added a Quick Tabs window, so that all pages can be seen as thumb nails.  See Fig. 2.

Closing IE then allows the user to choose to close all tabs, and to reopen them next time IE is run.  See Fig. 3.

Fig 3. This is the prompt message that appears (with options in view) when closing IE

Phishing Filter

Information from Microsoft:

Proactively warns and helps protect you against potential or known fraudulent sites and blocks the site if appropriate. The opt-in filter is updated several times per hour using the latest security information from Microsoft and several industry partners.

This filter gives the user a warning if a site is suspected of phishing.  If a site prompts this message, then users can report the site to Microsoft using a link on message.  Reports are then sent to staff at Microsoft who check the site, and then update the list of phishing sites as appropriate.  This will mean that the next person to visit the site will be told it is a confirmed Phishing Site, instead of suspected, or the warning on the site will be removed, whichever is appropriate.

For users who do not know to check for padlock symbols in their browser, to ensure the site is secure, this will be a very helpful feature.

I hope that it helps to cut down on the number of fraudulent web sites out there, to allow the internet to be a safer place to ‘play’.

Quick Search

An additional search bar has been added to the IE Browser window (See Fig. 4).  This allows users to search text on the web page they are currently viewing.

Users can select their preferred Search Provider, as well as set a default.

Fig. 4 The Quick Search Bar and menu

For users needing to find specific information fast, this is a great tool, and one that I will be making the most of.

Kirsty Lowe