Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) is latest iteration of Microsoft's venerable web browser. As each new version changes how web sites are interpreted, with each version comes a flurry of web page recreation. Many web sites have yet to be adapted to IE 7, which will cause you some issues as you browse the Internet. Microsoft provides a tool called the User Agent String Utility that allows IE 7 users to view web sites written for IE 6. That utility can be found here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=70356

Many IE 7 users are confused about the new Phishing Filter. "Phishing" is the technique of posing as a legitimate business or individual to direct unsuspecting users to bogus websites specifically to acquire sensitive personal information. The Phishing filter built in to IE 7 is actually updated several times an hour, consolidating current industry information regarding fraudulent web sites. If the web site you visit has been identified or is suspected of phishing, the filter will warn you. In IE 7 you may turn this filter on or off by going to "Tools" and selecting "Phishing Filter" from the menu. If you're directed to a suspicious web site, from the Phishing Filter menu you can "Check This Website" and "Report This Website" if it proves to be fraudulent.

IE 7 blocks unknown or bad certificates. Ironically, that includes those issued with Microsoft Operating Systems for use with Exchange, the Microsoft Email Server. Whenever you use Outlook Web Access (OWA) with IE 7 you will be blocked. From the block page you must choose "Continue to the web site" to by-pass the block. If a web page does not use a publicly purchased certificate, IE 7 automatically prevents unimpeded access. While this is an irritation when you access private sites, it is appreciated when shopping on-line, flagging illegitimate certificates on sites that the shopper might otherwise trust to be secure with his or her credit card and transaction information.

Where's the File Menu? It is there, but hidden. Simply press the Alt key on your keyboard and the "File Menu" bar appears. Wanting to maximize the viewing page, Microsoft hid the bar.

Most of the options found in IE 6 are also located in IE 7, but often in a different location. "Backward", "Forward", "Refresh", and "Stop" are all now located by the address field on the top line along with "Live Search". "Favorites", "Add to Favorites", "Home", "Print", and "Tools" are on the next line. As mentioned earlier, you must press the Alt key to reach the File Menu.

New features include Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, which allows users to link to web sites that are changing unpredictably. This may include news sites, blogs, etc. While IE 7 has the RSS feature built in, the web site has to support RSS for it to function.

"Live Search", top line far right, allows you to add various search engines to quickly access different data in a search. Simply click on the down arrow and choose "Find More Providers" to add "Web Search", "Topic Search", or any new search engine providers. To select a different default search provider click on the same down arrow and choose "Change Search Defaults" to manage your quick choices for search engines.

Tabbed browsing is another new feature. The web page you are on is shown in a highlighted tab at the top of the page, just to the right of the "Add to Favorites" icon. The tab furthest to the right shows as a "New Tab". Clicking on the New Tab and then typing in an address in the address bar, or choosing a site from favorites puts that web page in the tab. Multiple tabs provide multiple sites from the same browser. Simply click on the various tabs to access the different web sites.

The tab located between the open tabs and the "Add to Favorites" link is called the "Quick Tab". The Quick Tab looks like it has four little squares on it. With multiple tabs open, the Quick Tab gives you visual access to all of the tabs currently being accessed and you can close or open any of the tabs from there. If you highlight an organizational folder under "Favorites" and press the arrow at the right of the folder all of the sites within the folder will open in different tabs, which could make opening all of your frequently accessed web sites very easy.

Add-Ons for Internet Explorer is another expanded feature. The following site contains many new add-ons for your browser including security items, time savers, browsers, and entertainment: http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/category.aspx?bcatid=834&tabid=1/default.aspx

If you have specific issues you have encountered or have come across an interesting feature in the new IE 7 we would like to hear about it, to help you with a solution or share the knowledge. Call Micro Visions at 616-776-0400.