Web Browsers

Earlier versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer found only limited approval among critics and users. Things clearly changed for the better with the release of Internet Explorer 7 (IE7). Though many reviews still express a preference for other browsers, most concede that Internet Explorer now is at least competitive, and some say it is the best choice for certain users. Most notably, and perhaps ironically, its security features are currently the most robust of any web browser.

Firefox has lots of strengths according to experts. Reviews rave about its simple installation, virtually limitless options for customization, speed, adherence to web standards and quick response to discovered vulnerabilities. However, its security, while good, is not as strong as the latest version of Internet Explorer, according to reviews and tests. Other shortcomings include a memory "leak" -- a tendency to use more memory the longer you browse -- that sometimes slows things down to a crawl.

The Opera browser is often called the quickest and leanest browser in reviews. Though now a free download, earlier versions (prior to Opera 9) had to be purchased. That certainly cost the browser market share, and Opera continues to struggle to win over more than a fraction of users. Opera often ranks behind both Firefox and Internet Explorer in its security capabilities. Some of the browser's security shortcomings are addressed in Opera's 9.1 update, which added anti-phishing features, but reviews still give other browsers the nod in that respect.

Other Windows browsers don't get much recognition. Flock is a "social media" browser based on Firefox; it integrates applications like a blog editor, photo uploader, RSS reader, Twitter client and more. Maxthon uses the Internet Explorer browser engine. Reviews say it is powerful, but slow and resource hungry.

Of course, Mac users surf the web, too, and users of that operating system have nearly as many choices. Camino edges out Safari, Firefox and Opera as the best Mac-compatible browser in the reviews we saw. Striking back against Windows applications that have encroached on its turf, Apple recently debuted Safari for Windows. However, critics almost uniformly say that there's no reason for Windows users to consider using Safari.

Firefox balances security and performance

Though reviews weren't overly enthusiastic about Firefox's subtle changes when the latest version of that browser was introduced, critics and users have been won over by its usability and functionality. Experts almost unanimously give Internet Explorer the edge when it comes to security, but Firefox is no slouch in that department either. A three-judge panel at CNet.com awarded 12 out of 15 points for security to Firefox in a side-by-side comparison with IE. In a review for Softpedia.com, Ionut Ilascu found that Firefox performed nearly as well as IE in identifying phishing sites -- a nice showing considering the Firefox phishing tool received some early criticism in reviews.

Lots of extensions -- small programs that add extra features to the browser -- are available for Firefox, though some extensions are more useful than others. "The extensibility of Firefox 2 is its knockout punch, and IE's add-ons can't compare," notes Robert Vamosi for CNet.com. You can download extensions for anything from blocking all ads on a page, to adding extra sort categories to eBay listings, to a tool that finds "hidden" words on websites. If you like tweaking and adding to software functionality, you'll enjoy exploring Firefox extensions.

Firefox offers all of the expected major features, including tabbed browsing, which lets you open multiple web pages within the same browser window. This not only speeds navigation from one page view to another, but uses fewer system resources. RSS feeds are nicely handled. When you navigate to a site that contains an RSS feed, a little orange RSS feed button conveniently appears on the right side of the address box. There's also a preview page that provides information on an RSS feed when the user is subscribing to it. Other features include pop-up window blocking and your choice of built-in search toolbars. The interface is described as clean and simple to use.

According to eWEEK's Jim Raposa, one clear advantage of Firefox over Internet Explorer is that it runs on multiple platforms. Those include current and older versions of Windows, as well as Linux and OS X (for Macs). This is especially handy for people who like to use the same browser on several computers with different operating systems. The current version of Internet Explorer, on the other hand, will not run on anything other than Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista.

Firefox does have some drawbacks. For example, Internet Explorer has an image toolbar that loads automatically when you click on an image, a feature that Firefox lacks. One of the most common complaints is of a "memory leak," which causes Firefox to use increasing amounts of memory the longer you browse. Although users posting reviews of Firefox at CNet.com give it a high rating on average, some complain of slow speed, certain pages not displaying properly and the lack of a form-filler (you can add on a form-filler with an extension). Also, the Firefox download comes in a very "plain vanilla" version. If you want popular browser plug-ins like Java Virtual Machine, Flash Player, QuickTime and Shockwave, you must download these separately from their respective sites. On the other hand, some users prefer not to install those plug-ins at all.

A new version of Firefox (Firefox 3) is set to emerge from beta by late June 2008, according to published reports. As with the current release, reviewers note little difference in the user interface and, on the surface, version 3.0 may seem barely changed from earlier versions. When you dig deeper, however, Firefox 3.0 seems to include many significant improvements.

Among the reported Firefox 3 upgrades are easier tab browsing, session save (which allows a user to reinstate tabs from a previous search), improved add-on management dialog, enhanced bookmarking capabilities and many performance and memory management advancements. A decidedly "Web 2.0" addition to Firefox 3.0 is the ability to access sites and Internet applications while offline. (Web 2.0 is a catch phrase coined to describe a second generation of Internet uses and sites, including Rich Internet Applications (RIA), social networking sites, blogs, wikis and much more; see Best Research for a link to additional information.) Notable security improvements include one-click access to secure website ownership information and stronger warnings against known malware, phishing sites and pages with unsigned or faulty SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates.

Critics reviewing the beta versions are already impressed. eWEEK's Jim Raposa comments, "it almost seems as if Mozilla listened to the most common complaints … and decided to address them." Computerworld's Preston Gralla says that the browser's new features "make browsing the Web easier, faster, safer, and easier to customize --- and the memory leak problem seems to have been fixed."

Internet Explorer boosts online security

According to Internet Week's Ed Bott, the current version of Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 7 (IE7), was the first top-to-bottom overhaul of Microsoft's flagship browser in a decade. He adds that while Internet Explorer has a long and well-earned reputation as a vector for viruses and spyware, the long list of security features in the current version go a long way toward addressing those concerns.

Many other reviewers have also noted the superior security features in IE7. Robert Vamosi, for CNet.com, says that ActiveX controls are disabled by default; you have to specifically approve the use of any ActiveX control, even if it's part of the operating system. That simple precaution goes a long way toward blocking a common path for browser-based attacks. Internet Explorer also offers a URL parser designed to foil malware that uses a "carefully crafted" URL to create a buffer overflow. It also restricts scripts from interacting between sites or across domains. This type of organic approach is the right way to think about security because it tackles the root of the problem instead of reacting to exploits that have already been released.

An anti-phishing tool offers protection against sites that try to steal personal information; IE7 can analyze a given page and determine whether it's the real McCoy or a spoofed page. You can configure this tool to check every website, or you can disable automatic checking and just submit individual pages that don't look right.

CNet.com finds some fault with the much-touted anti-phishing technology, however. In tests, IE7 failed to identify phishing sites less than one hour old, a problem not experienced by alternative anti-phishing technologies such as the standalone anti-phishing toolbar from Netcraft (see Alternative Considerations, below). Although catching phishing sites in their first hour may seem insignificant, few phishing sites remain online past 72 hours, making even that first hour critical to online security. Additionally, some reviewers complain about an inability to override IE7's warnings, leaving certain pages inaccessible.

All of these security features are placed right up where you can see them -- next to the Address bar. That is also where you'll find the padlock icon, which indicates that you've connected to a secure site. Though this placement is convenient, some reviewers dislike how busy the address bar is as a result.

Internet Explorer's toolbar has been simplified from previous versions to show only icons by default, but it can be toggled back to the menu bar. The Favorites sidebar has three tabs: Favorites, History and RSS feeds. When you subscribe to an RSS feed, you'll no longer see a page of HTML but a fairly basic representation of all the current feeds for that page, plus any categorizing the site has done regarding specific topics. However, reviews note that Internet Explorer sometimes has trouble detecting new feeds.

Reviews praise the way Internet Explorer handles tabbed browsing. To open a new blank tab, click the New Tab button or press Ctrl+T. To close a tab, click the red X on the active tab. Creating tabs this way is a big improvement over the out-of-the-box behavior of Firefox, which requires one or more extensions to properly tame the tabbed interface, but falls short of Opera's more intuitive and advanced tabbing system (see below). Internet Explorer also allows you to save a group of tabs to your Favorites list under a single folder, which you can open with one click (a feature pioneered by Opera and included in the Firefox 3 beta). You can also designate multiple tabs as a home page group.

Reviewers concur that tabbed browsing can get confusing since after you've opened more than 10 pages, the text on the tab is reduced to indecipherable squiggle. However, here IE7 delivers -- click the Quick Tabs icon to the left of the first open tab to display a thumbnail view of all open pages. The visual cues are usually enough to help you find the right page.

Internet Week's Ed Bott acknowledges some problems with Internet Explorer's handling of tabbed browsing. For example, you can't rearrange the order of open tabs. And when you've filled all available space on the tab bar — the exact number depends on your screen resolution -- some tabs disappear from the display, with no easy way to scroll to the missing pages.

In a review that originally appeared in Computer Shopper (UK), David McKinnon says that Internet Explorer borrows features from other browsers, including an integrated search box that supports the OpenSearch standard and a one-step option to clear personal information (cached pages, cookies, saved passwords and so on). By hiding the classic menus and shrinking toolbars to a bare minimum, IE7 leaves more room for the browser window itself than any of its competitors. McKinnon also appreciates that Internet Explorer always has an empty tab waiting, whereas Opera and Firefox make you explicitly open a new tab. Unlike Opera, you cannot tile or cascade tabs in Internet Explorer (or Firefox, for that matter). Another useful feature is that IE7 will automatically size a page so that when it goes to your printer, you will not lose the content on the far right side of the page. Unfortunately, this sometimes results in micro-printed text, so print preview is a must.

Internet Explorer 7 is included as part of Windows Vista. In addition, it will run on Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). It will not run on older versions of Windows or under any other operating system. That's in sharp contrast to both Firefox' and Opera's abilities to run on multiple platforms.

Like Firefox, a new version of Internet Explorer (IE8) is in the offing, and the beta 1 is available for download for those hearty souls ready to take it for a spin. Some initial reviews and reports are starting to come in. Preston Gralla at Computerworld does a head-to-head comparison of the latest Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer 8 betas, and comes away more impressed with Firefox. He says that Internet Explorer 8 will include some interesting features, like WebSlices -- which he likens to RSS feeds "on steroids," but adds that "WebSlices will only be useful if developers write them, and it's not clear that will happen." He adds that most other IE8 improvements are "peripheral to the browsing experience."

One more notable improvement, however, is that IE8 conforms to web standards when it renders pages, something that's been a sore spot with previous generations of Internet Explorer, including the current version. Softpedia.com confirms that IE8 can pass the Web Standards Project's Acid2 test, though the site's technology news editor, Marius Oiaga, notes that, contrary to Microsoft's claims, Safari, Opera and the Firefox 3 Beta can pass that test as well.

Opera struggles to attract users

Many critics and devoted users give Opera high praise, however, Opera has failed to achieve widespread use. Although the company has been around since 1995, it has managed to gain just about a 1.5% share (as of January 2008) of the browser market.

One problem is that it had been the only major browser that was not distributed free, instead charging users a licensing fee for a full version. A free version had also been available since 2000, but it displayed advertisements in the form of banners through the browser window. However, beginning with Version 9, the Opera web browser has been completely free.

Opera features include widgets (small web applications that sit on users' desktops), and support for BitTorrent, a popular file distribution technology. A security bar prevents scams like phishing. A pop-up blocker and its multiple search-engine capability are also present. Opera not only offers tabbed browsing, but also enables you to save all the open web pages at once, as one "session." Then you can return to the session at another time, opening all of them at the same time. Opera, like Firefox, enables you to also search eBay and Amazon.com from the toolbar.

Another Opera feature is mouse gestures, which allow you to simply move the mouse in one of four directions to navigate on a web page. It also offers keyboard shortcuts, drag-and-drop image saving, a built-in notepad, RSS reader and download manager. Like Internet Explorer and Firefox, Opera can manage usernames and passwords for you. You can re-size a web page to the width of your browser window both for display and for printing. Opera also builds in voice interaction, chat and e-mail. The Opera e-mail client has a built-in spam filter, a feature praised by editors at CNet.com. They also like its built-in notepad, and the way Opera is easy to customize.

According to eWEEK's Jim Raposa, one of the coolest and most valuable new features in Opera is its search customization feature. This means that you can surf to a site, right-click in a search field, and then choose to add the site's search engine to Opera's list of integrated engines. You can even choose this new engine as the default search engine. Another feature makes it possible to selectively block content within a website. By right clicking on the site, an interface comes up showing the site grayed out. You can then hold down the Shift key and click on specific images, ads and other components, blocking them the next time you visit that site. Opera's site-settings feature makes it possible to define controls and settings on a site-by-site basis. So, for example, you can define how to handle pop-ups or cookies on a site.

Jim Raposa reports that the BitTorrent client worked well in eWEEK's tests, and during downloads of Linux ISO files it provided good feedback and was very lightweight. However, he warns that BitTorrent users should keep in mind that if you close the browser, the download stops. Many BitTorrent clients, in contrast, just switch to a minimized mode.

Opera includes many small interface and navigation enhancements that will allow users to more quickly open tabs or access specific search sites. Finally, Opera 9 tops off its feature set with new widgets that make it possible to download (or create for developers) small pop-up applications that run within the browser. Recent maintenance updates have added significant new features. One is real-time Fraud Protection to help combat phishing. Another is a "speed dial" feature that let's users call up frequently visited web pages with a single mouse click.

Not every reviewer is a fan. The Washington Post's Michael Tedeschi describes Opera's features as more "amusing than useful" and states that the underdog browser offers little to truly encourage Internet Explorer and Firefox users to quit. For true multitaskers, Tedeschi reports that Opera can read web pages and respond to voice commands, but that this feature works best with simple commands and sites that are primarily text-based. (The browser reads everything on a page – even photo titles – in a clear but monotonous voice.) Tedeschi concludes that some of Opera's features seem too cutting edge in that they show promise but are not particularly useful yet.

Like the other major Windows browsers, an Opera update is forthcoming. Version 9.5 is currently in beta 1. It will include numerous new features, improved browsing speed, interface enhancements, a reworked BitTorrent client and more. Ars Technica's Jeremy Reimer takes a first look at Opera 9.5 and gives it a general thumbs up, saying it raises the bar for web surfing. "Opera remains a light and fast browser that still manages to cram in more features than clowns in a Volkswagen and is just as much fun to use," he concludes.

Safari gets in on the Windows game

When Apple announced the release of Safari, the flagship Mac browser, for Windows, the news was arguably the biggest splash ever made by a web browser. A survey of browser reviews indicates that Safari attracts a comparatively enormous amount of critical attention. Unfortunately, the conclusions of reviews are consistent: in the words of ExtremeTech.com's Michael Muchmore, "Just say no to Safari for Windows."

So what went wrong? Some of the issues are clearly a culture -- and technology clash -- between the two operating systems and their users. eWEEK's Jim Raposa notes, "It looks as if it is on a Mac system … Windows users may find it harder to carry out common tasks." He continues, "Even experienced Mac users may find some frustration when using Safari on Windows, as the customization and extensibility options for Safari on Windows are much lower … than on Mac."

Other problems go deeper. Michael Muchmore lists "10 Reasons Not to Use Safari on Windows." He cites a lack of basic security features, sluggish response by Apple to bugs and vulnerabilities, incompatibility with interactive websites, bloated file size, poorly programmed tabs, memory leaks and no sidebar to show bookmarks or history, among other issues. These concerns are echoed by Barbara Krasnoff, in her review for NetworkComputing.com, who notes that Safari doesn't include functions that are intuitive for Windows users, such as right-clicks and cursor-over tooltips.

Safari reviews aren't exclusively negative, though, and most also report innovative and useful features. The Bookmarks Manager is well designed and easy to use, and Safari handles RSS feeds seamlessly. Perhaps the most highly praised Safari functions are SnapBack and private browsing. SnapBack enables one-click return to an earlier search page, bypassing lengthy Back arrow navigating. Krasnoff and Raposa agree that this is a great feature for in-depth searches. Krasnoff was generous with her assessment of private browsing, a function that prevents a search from being stored in the browser's memory. The only downside to the private browsing option, according to Krasnoff, is the lack of a static on-page notification that private browsing has been enabled.

Even these gems aren't enough to redeem Safari for Windows in reviews, however. Without exception, reviewers indicate that Firefox and Opera are far superior browser options for Windows systems.

Camino leads the pack on the Mac

Mac users have almost as many browser choices as Windows users. The top browsers include Apple's own Safari browser, Mac versions of Opera or Firefox and Camino, which shares its roots with Firefox but has been developed specifically for the Mac. Of the four, Camino has an edge over Safari in reviews, but only a slight one. Firefox lags those two, but even the most critical reviewers say any of the three browsers are actually fine choices for use on a Mac. Opera has the least support, with even fans noting that it has "room for improvement."

Alex Iskold, writing for ReadWriteWeb.com, comments that Safari's most impressive feature is an integrated RSS reader, which, like the vendor's other applications, has a clean look and feel, and is intuitive to use. Other browsers allow you to treat an RSS feed as a bookmark but don't present the feed as more than a series of titles. With Safari, you can see the article title, the date it was posted and a description or summary of the article. Safari also allows you to hide the summary in case you just want to check out headlines.

Apple Computer, which ships and seamlessly integrates its Safari browser into Mac OS X, takes the best features from other browsers, such as pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing and a built-in integrated search, and combines them with its desktop interface to create an amazingly simple browsing experience. Safari is available as a free download at Apple's website.

Reviews do find some drawbacks to Safari. Mitch Wagner, of NetworkComputing.com, calls Safari a "fine" browser but not quite as good as competitor Camino, noting that Safari is slower and more resource-hungry. But, he adds, "Camino isn't so much better than Safari that it's worth switching. If you've been using Safari all this time and you're not particularly dissatisfied, Camino won't impress you enough to make you want to switch."

Wagner's opinion is not unique. Camino edges out Safari in many -- but not all --reviews, but usually not by very much. Critics commend its small file size, zippy performance, agility in handling pop-ups and an intuitive bookmark interface. There are a number of security and privacy features and numerous options for customizing the way the browser deals with cookies, pop-ups and other online advertising. Even though it's a Mozilla product, Camino isn't compatible with Firefox add-ons; this is because Camino is based on the native Mac Cocoa toolkit and not on Firefox's XUL toolkit. As a result, Camino runs like a Mac product and can access Mac services that do not run with Firefox.

Though Firefox also garners positive comments for use on Mac systems, it generally trails Camino and Safari in most reviewers' eyes. Mozilla's reputation for cutting-edge programming and swift response to browser issues is known within the Mac community. Charles Moore at AppleLinks.com is impressed that the beta version of Firefox 3 as a solid browser with none of the bugginess typically associated with betas. Mitch Wagner finds features in Firefox that Camino lacks, like address-bar keyword searches, del.icio.us and TinyURL extensions and an integrated RSS reader. As with Windows-based Firefox, the extensibility and easy customization of Firefox is enjoyed by reviewers. Firefox is also considered to be a particularly good choice for users who work on both PCs and Macs. Still, the consensus opinion seems to be that while Firefox doesn't do poorly in tests, it is outshone by the exceptional performance of Safari and, especially, Camino.

Though it gets serious consideration on the Windows platform, Opera isn't as well regarded on the Mac. Joe Kissell, of Macworld, notes that Opera has one of the most extensive lists of features of any Mac browser, and many customization options. However, the browser uses a proprietary rendering engine and Kissell saw a few display and loading issues, especially with forms. Kissell adds that these problems are expected to be fixed in the forthcoming 9.5 version, according to Opera. Another drawback is launch time. Both Kissell and Applelinks' Charles Moore note that Opera is one of the slowest Mac browsers to load, though speed once running is first rate. Moore says stability is fine, but Kissell reports a few crashes.

Mac users also have a few other choices, but none get very much recognition. Macworld's Joe Kissell says that iCab is the only browser that is still actively supported on everything from 68K Macs through the latest OS X Leopard. Kissell notes that the latest version is greatly improved from earlier efforts, but a lack of documentation is a distinct negative. Also, iCab is one of the few browsers to require a license fee (*est. $25) for a full version, called iCab Pro. The freeware version is plagued with nag messages at startup -- and occasionally while browsing -- cajoling users to upgrade. Shiira is an open source web browser based on Safari. We saw only limited coverage of its current version. Jason Cranford Teague, writing for Macworld, says a rough interface and buggy bookmarking undo for now what could someday be a worthwhile contender.

Of course, owners of Apple computers with Intel processors can also run the Windows operating system. That means that, theoretically, a Mac owner could run any browser under XP or Vista, while also being able to use Safari, Firefox or Camino through OS X.

Mobile web browsers

The proliferation of smart phones and Internet-capable media players is opening exciting opportunities for browser developers, most of which are jumping into the mobile browser fray with both feet. In spring 2007, Microsoft quietly unveiled a new mobile browser, Deepfish, and Mozilla is releasing not just one, but two Mobile Firefox browsers (for touch screen and non-touch screen devices). Opera has already rolled out Opera Mini. Reviewers even speculate that the release of Apple's Safari for Windows might be less about cutting into Internet Explorer's market share than it is about introducing native Windows users to the browser found on the Apple iPhone.

Most reviewers seem to be focused on the emerging browser war between Opera's mobile browser, Opera Mini, and Mobile Firefox. Opera's reputation for exceptional performance and innovative features carries over into the mobile market, while Firefox's legions of dedicated fans are determined to bring the open-source project to their traveling devices.

Firefox's awareness of the difference between user preferences for touch screen and non-touch screen devices is a plus. Neither version has yet been released, but relying on mock-ups, notes and other information on Mozilla's development wiki, Sarah Perez wrote a side-by-side comparison to Opera Mini for ReadWriteWeb.com.

Both versions of Mobile Firefox will feature intuitive and simple features, including user friendly navigation and zoom options. Seemingly borrowing from Safari, navigation arrows will be marked with recognizable symbols, and there are quick-tap options to access the bookmark interface and bookmarked sites. Tabbed browsing will also be included, and Mozilla's large development community will almost certainly turn out more of their oft-praised add-ons for Mobile Firefox.

Additionally, the Internet is buzzing with speculation and rumors about optimizing Mobile Firefox to interact with Weave, a new Mozilla portability project. In short, this feature would allow Firefox users to synchronize their home and mobile devices, down to browser session settings and passwords.

However, with nearly identical features to those proposed by Firefox, including the ability to sync mobile and desktop machines, experts such as Perez point out that Opera Mini 4 does, today, what Firefox proposes to do sometime in "late 2008." Jim Raposa, writing in eWEEK, commends Opera for its free Opera Link service, which syncs personal browser settings, bookmarks and favorites to a centralized service (My Opera Service), which in turns syncs mobile devices running Opera Mini 4. Perez writes that this system is not as seamless as Mozilla's proposed Weave feature, but it is still "fairly simple."

Opera Mini offers easy-to-use navigation, including a one-key-click switch to landscape mode. Content can be selected and links clicked using a virtual mouse, and users have the option to view pages with images on or off, saving space on the limited view window. Keyboard shortcuts give access to power scrolling. A Small Screen Rendering feature automatically resizes content for optimal viewing on mobile devices. Opera Mini also has Opera's Speed Dial feature, which offers quick access to frequently-visited Web sites.

Firefox users tend to be loyal, and since more PC users are familiar with Firefox than Opera, it remains to be seen if the mobile market will prefer popularity or functionality. Currently, reviewers conclude, Opera Mini is well ahead of the competition in providing a mobile browser with outstanding performance, rich features and a great number of convenience options.

Important Features: Web browsers

Experts recommend considering the following features when selecting an Internet browser:

• Security means protecting your computer from invasive attacks that can give an intruder access to your files, as well as protection from viruses and worms. To improve security on any browser, ActiveX controls should be turned off and browser warnings heeded before proceeding to a Web page (if proceeding at all).

• Pop-up ad blocking is now built into all the major browsers. Most also allow you to see pop-ups when you want to, but this feature varies in convenience.

• Tabbed browsing is available on most browsers. Tabbed browsing lets you open several browser windows at once, with the tab for each—so you can easily navigate among them. Opera lets you save all the open windows at once as a session, so you can open them all together when you return.

• A download manager facilitates long downloads. If the download is interrupted, it can resume where it left off. Firefox and Opera both offer a download manager.

• RSS readers are now standard. An RSS reader helps you read and subscribe to weblogs and news services, whose content changes daily or even more often.

• A form filler makes it much more convenient to complete online forms. This feature will fill in common information on online forms, such as your name, phone number or e-mail address so that you don't have to type them out.

• A password manager can save your usernames and passwords. Most browsers, including Internet Explorer and Firefox, include a password manager.

• Group bookmark links can open an entire set of websites at one time. This is a handy feature offered by Opera, Camino (for Macs) and now Internet Explorer. Firefox 3 (beta) adds this feature.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model
14	Firefox (Windows) (Free)
12	Opera (Windows) (Free)
5	Internet Explorer (Free)
4	Camino (Free)
3	Safari (Mac) (Free)
1	Opera Mini (Free)

When it comes to browsers, it seems beauty is in the eye of the beholder as most have their fans. Those who put security first and foremost favor Internet Explorer. Opera sits at the other extreme; it is lean and fast, but offers the least protection against the hazards on the web. Firefox strikes a balance, offering both good performance and security, but is not the best at either. Still, more reviewers favor it more than any other Windows browser. For Mac users, Camino gets a slight nod over Safari, but most say both are fine choices. Firefox and Opera are lesser contenders on the Mac platform. Opera Mini has an early lead among browsers for mobile devices.

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