Microsoft has released a public preview of its
forthcoming Internet Explorer 7 browser, designed to fend off the
mounting challenge from the open-source Firefox
browser.
Available to download from the Microsoft website, the new
browser demonstrates new security and functionality features.
Previous versions of Internet Explorer 7 had only been available
to a limited audience, but the latest version can be used by any
user with Windows XP service pack 2 on their desktop.
New security and privacy protection capabilities are designed to
combat phishing attacks, spyware programs and other threats.
As expected, another new feature allows users to more easily
clear their browsing history, thus wiping passwords, form data and
cookies in one click.
This feature will make it harder for remote attackers to steal
valuable information from users if there is a security breach on
the user’s machine.
IE7 also includes tabbed browsing and a new search box on a more
streamlined toolbar, to rival features already available to users
of Mozilla’s Firefox browser, which is currently taking market
share away from IE.
Tabbed browsing allows users to open multiple web pages in a
single browser window.
In addition, new printing enhancements and shrink-to-fit
printing features enable users to adjust margins, change a page
layout, remove headers or footers, and increase or decrease print
space.
The browser is also designed to make it easier for users to
automatically download Real Simple Syndication (RSS) content.
Microsoft plans to release a final version of IE 7 later this
year, around the same time as it launches its new Windows Vista
operating system.