Internet Explorer 8 8.0.6001.18702 Final

Size: 16.1 MB

Developer: Microsoft

License / Price: Freeware / $0

Operating Systems: Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / XP X64 / 2008 / Vista64

Making your web even better...Faster, Easier, Safer

The competition to gain the title of The Best Internet Browser is getting more fierce with every new release, as the major players in the industry continuously come up with new and appealing features in order to gain more more popularity compared to the others.

Internet Explorer 8 may not be the latest flavor available on the market for this browser, but it is still very much in use especially by those still running Windows Vista.

From the user interface perspective, you'll love it if you're used to a more crowded environment (which is totally different from the minimalist attitude of Firefox or Chrome). Keep in mind that you can organize and customize basically everything, so you get a lot of freedom in operating it. 

When installing IE 8, you are prompted to configure all sorts of options and settings, while the custom settings include a default search provider, search provides updates, accelerators, SmartScreen filter, and compatibility settings.

The SmartScreen Filter will protect you against malicious activity, such as viruses and spyware, and it has been upgraded since IE 7. Also related to security is the InPrivate Browsing mode, which allows users to protect their privacy by making sure no cookies or other traces are left behind after web browsing. 

Accelerators are a new feature in Internet Explorer 8 and they are meant to grant you speed. They let you easily access various web services once you have found a page of interest, thus reducing the need to open several webpages to find specific information.

Internet Explorer 8 also features Web Slices, and this option literally lets you visualize parts of information from a particular area, without having to open a new tab and navigate away from the current page.

In conclusion, Internet Explorer 8 comes both with new features and upgraded functions, all in an attempt to fix its issues and optimize performance. It is definitely superior to Internet Explorer 7 so it is worth given a chance.

Internet Explorer 8 description

Internet Explorer 8 provides a web browsing experience you will enjoy.

View any site with ease
Now you can quickly display websites that were designed for older browsers. Simply press the new Compatibility View button if you see display problems on a website like misaligned text, images, or text boxes. It's located next to the Refresh button on the Address Bar.

Visualize your search
Search smarter with detailed suggestions from your favorite search providers and browsing history. Let the Instant Search Box do the thinking for you as instantaneous image and text suggestions appear as you type.

Keep up with what matters most with Web Slices
Add a Web Slice and you won't have to go back to the same website again and again for updates on news, stock quotes, online auctions, weather, or even sports scores now those updates will come to you. The new Web Slice feature provides up-to-the-minute information on the sites you care about most in one convenient place on the new Favorites bar.

Get things done faster with Accelerators
View driving directions, translate words, email your discoveries on the web to others, and more in just a few mouse clicks. Complete your everyday browsing activities more quickly with the new Accelerator feature.

Stay more secure
The new SmartScreen Filter lets you browse and email more safely by helping to protect against deceptive and malicious websites which can compromise your data, privacy, and identity.

Browse with more privacy
Surf the web without saving your history, shop for that special gift with confidence knowing your family won't accidentally find out, or use a shared computer without leaving a trace. Help protect your privacy with new InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Filtering features.