Internet Explorer 7 Features
On this page you will see a simple, easy to understand list and description of the main features, improvements, enhancements and advancements available on Internet Explorer 7.
Checkout the IE7 Add-Ons page for EXCELLENT ways to personalise and make better use of one of the most used web browser in the world.
To see our detailed review of Internet Explorer 7, please click IE7 Review. You can also read the review summary there, which WONT bore you with details.
Everyday
Tasks Made Easier
Internet Explorer 7 provides improved navigation
through tabbed browsing, web search right from the
toolbar, advanced printing, easy discovery, reading
and subscription to RSS feeds, and much more. See
below to learn more. back to top
Tabbed browsing
View multiple sites in a single browser window.
Easily switch from one site to another through tabs
at the top of the browser frame. back to top
Quick tabs
Easily select and navigate through open tabs by
displaying thumbnails of them all in a single
window. back to top
Tab groups
Tabs can be grouped and saved into logical
categories, so you can open multiple tabs with a
single click. A Tab Group can easily be set as the
Home Page Group so the entire Tab Group opens every
time Internet Explorer is launched. back to top
Streamlined Interface
A redesigned, streamlined interface maximizes the
area of the screen that displays a webpage, so you
see more of what you need, and less of what you
don't. back to top
Advanced Printing
Internet Explorer 7 automatically scales a webpage
for printing, so the entire webpage fits on your
printed page. Print options also include adjustable
margins, customizable page layouts, removable
headers and footers, and an option to print only
selected text. back to top
Instant Search box
Web searches using your favourite search provider
can now be entered into a search box within the
toolbar, eliminating the clutter of separate
toolbars. You can easily choose a provider from the
dropdown list or add more providers. back to top
Favourite Center
Get quick and easy access to your Favorites, Tab
Groups, Browsing History, and RSS Feed
subscriptions. Your Favorites Center expands when
needed, and can be anchored in place for even easier
access. back to top
RSS feeds
Internet Explorer 7 automatically detects RSS feeds
on sites and illuminates an icon on the toolbar. A
single click on the icon allows you to preview and
subscribe to the RSS feed if you want—so you’re
automatically notified as content is updated. Read
RSS feeds directly in the browser, scan for
important stories, and filter your view with search
terms or site-specific categories. back to top
Page Zoom
Enlarge individual webpage's, including both text
and graphics, to either focus on specific content or
to make content more accessible to those with vision
limitations. back to top
Dynamic
Security Protection
Internet Explorer 7 provides security through a
robust new architecture, security features that help
defend against malicious software (also known as
malware), and new ways to better protect against the
theft of personal data from fraudulent websites, a
practice known as phishing. See below to learn more. back to top
ActiveX opt-in
Disable nearly all pre-installed ActiveX controls to
prevent potentially vulnerable controls from being
exposed to attack. You can easily enable or disable
ActiveX controls as needed through the Information
Bar and the Add-on Manager. back to top
Security status bar
Colour-coded notifications appear next to the
address bar to make you aware of website security
and privacy settings. The Address Bar changes to
green for websites bearing new High Assurance
certificates, indicating the site owner has
completed extensive identity verification checks.
Phishing Filter notifications, certificate names,
and the gold padlock icon also appear next to the
address bar for better visibility. You can easily
display certificate and privacy detail information
with a single click on the Security Status bar. back to top
Phishing Filter
This filter warns you about and helps to protect you
against potential or known fraudulent websites, and
blocks the sites if appropriate. This opt-in filter
is updated several times per hour using the latest
security information from Microsoft and several
industry partners. back to top
Cross-domain barriers
Internet Explorer 7 helps to prevent the script on
webpage's from interacting with content from other
domains or windows. This enhanced safeguard gives
you additional protection against malware by helping
to prevent malicious websites from manipulating
flaws in other websites or causing you to download
undesired content or software. back to top
Delete browsing history
Clean up cached pages, passwords, form data,
cookies, and history, all from a single window. back to top
Address bar protection
Every window, whether it's a pop-up or standard
window, will show you an address bar, helping to
block malicious sites from emulating trusted sites. back to top
International domain name anti-spoofing
In addition to adding support for International
Domain Names in URLs, Internet Explorer also
notifies you when visually similar characters in the
URL are not expressed in the same
language—protecting you against sites that could
otherwise appear as known, trustworthy sites. back to top
URL handling security
Redesigned URL parsing ensures consistent processing
and minimizes possible exploits. The new URL handler
helps centralize critical data parsing and increases
data consistency throughout the application. back to top
Fix My Settings
To help protect you from browsing with unsafe
settings, Internet Explorer 7 warns you with an
Information Bar when current security settings may
put you at risk. Within the Internet Control Panel,
you will see certain critical items highlighted in
red when they are unsafely configured. The
Information Bar will continue to remind you as long
as the settings remain unsafe. You can instantly
reset Internet security settings to the
"Medium-High" default level by clicking the "Fix My
Settings" option in the Information Bar. back to top
Add-ons disabled mode
If you have difficulties launching Internet Explorer
or reaching specific websites, you can start
Internet Explorer in "No Add-ons" mode, where only
critical system add-ons are enabled. back to top
Features
unique to Windows Vista
These features are available only with Internet
Explorer 7 in Windows Vista:
Protected mode Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista
runs in isolation from other applications in the
operating system. It restricts exploits and
malicious software from writing to any location
beyond Temporary Internet Files without explicit
user consent.
Parental controls To help keep kids safer online,
parents can control browsing behaviour through the
parental control settings built into Windows Vista.
The child's safety level can be monitored and
changed remotely. The safety level carries over to
many PC activities, such as playing games or
browsing the Internet. A child's browsing session
can even be examined by a parent afterwards, and
cannot be removed without the parent's permission. back to top