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Internet Explorer 8 for Windows

  • Free

  • In English
  • V 8.0.6001.18702
  • 3.3

    (6683)
  • Security Status

Softonic review

Xavier Slim
Xavier SlimUpdated 10 months ago

Microsoft gets back on track with a promising web browser

Internet Explorer 8 is Microsoft's incredibly popular web browser. Almost everyone has used some version of it, and you can be sure all websites will support it.

What new functionlity does IE 8 bring?

Internet Explorer 8 includes two main new tools: one is Accelerators (previously known as Activities), and the other is Web Slices. The first one gives you direct access to various online services just by right-clicking anywhere on the web page or on highlighted text. For instance, you can look up a word, map an address or perform a search with those marked words. The main drawback is that all these options use Microsoft's Windows Live services which means that you're stuck with them.

Regarding Internet Explorer's Web Slices, these are a kind of RSS-style tool that tracks changes and updates to selected websites and keeps you informed about them. It comes in really handy for tracking small changes that can't be followed by RSS, without having to visit the site: online auction bids, stock exchange values, weather information and more.

Besides these two tools, Internet Explorer 8 also includes many interesting new features. One of them, the 'Suggested sites' function, recommends new websites you may not know about, based on your browsing history.

The return of the menu bar

The interface of Internet Explorer 8 hasn't changed that much compared to older versions, except for one small detail; the menu bar is back and shows up by default again. Besides that, everything else is in place: the address bar is again on top of the interface, and Favorites are accessible via a drop-down menu.

Protecting your privacy and security

Internet Explorer 8 includes InPrivate Browsing, Internet Explorer's version of the popular Chrome Incognito mode. While InPrivate Browsing is on, the browser won't save data, including cookies, history and temporary Internet files. As for security, Internet Explorer 8 includes the so-called SmartScreen filter, which prevents you from entering fraudulent websites and protects you from online phishing scams.

The verdict

Internet Explorer 8 is truly a giant step forward, and proves that Microsoft is working hard to offer a more secure, compatible and customizable browser.

Web Slices - subscribe to specific content from web pagesVisual search boxSuggested sitesAcceleratorsImproved performanceNew tabs featuresImproved searchTab groupingImproved zoom

Changes

  • Web Slices - subscribe to specific content from web pagesVisual search boxSuggested sitesAcceleratorsImproved performanceNew tabs featuresImproved searchTab groupingImproved zoom

PROS

  • Standard compliant
  • Interesting new features: Accelerators, Web Clips
  • New InPrivate browsing
  • Protection against online scams and malware

CONS

  • Accelerators are tied to Microsoft's online services
  • Privacy issues in Suggested sites

Program available in other languages


Internet Explorer 8 for PC

  • Free

  • In English
  • V 8.0.6001.18702
  • 3.3

    (6683)
  • Security Status


User reviews about Internet Explorer 8

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    Nostalgicistic and evolvulutionary..
    Its different. and better in a futuristic sense
    .......
    ...
    .....
    ... .
    .... More

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    This is an awesome browser..
    I'm using Windows XP with Internet Explorer 8 installed. I use ths browser regularly but find no faults at all. Thi More

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    Don't like it!.
    Internet Explorer is the worst browser I used. it keeps crashing on me so I now use Mozilla Firefox. I did download internet exp More

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    IE.
    Bad HTML5 support, overcomplicated UI; terrible for devs and users alike. IE9 and IE10 aren't too bad, but <IE8 are almost completel More

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    Horrible..
    Internet Explorer is horrible. Slow. No extensions. Not compatible with Xp. Future with Vista. Only wants money
    Pros: -Compatib More

  • Anonymous

    by Anonymous

    Are you serious?.
    Internet Explorer 8 is like Netscape Navigator. It's old and slow and horrible. The startup takes like 5 minutes, page loads l More


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