Hackers Trigger Security Panic for Internet Explorer

Explorer, Firefox down as Google's browser makes big gains

(NEWSER) - Less than three years since its official public launch, Google's Chrome has become the second-most popular web browser in the world, reports Digital Trends . In November, Chrome accounted for 25.7% of global browser usage, climbing just past declining Firefox, which fell to 25.23%. Just two years ago, Chrome had been roughly tied for third, along with Safari and Opera, with about 4.5%, but since then has steadily gained market share around the world. More»

Site was a fly-by-night creation

(NEWSER) - Well, looks like we better not talk about anyone’s IQ for a while: A story circulated last week about a study showing that Internet Explorer users had lower IQs than users of other browsers (we summarized it here ). But it turns out the study was a hoax, reports the BBC , which also fell for the ruse. ApTiquant, the company allegedly behind the study, had only recently put its website up, and its staff images were swiped from a legit business in Paris. More»

Especially if they haven't upgraded

(NEWSER) - If you’re reading this site on Internet Explorer 6, you should know you’re not in good company. A new study from a Canadian company called AptiQuant has found that Internet Explorer users are on average significantly less intelligent than users of other browsers, especially if they’re using older versions. Those still running Internet Explorer 6 have an average IQ just above 80, while Firefox and Chrome users are up at around 110 and Opera and Camino users above 120. More»

New version is out Tuesday

(NEWSER) - Good news for privacy enthusiasts: The new version of Internet Explorer, out Tuesday, will include a do-not-track tool, making Microsoft’s Web browser the first major one to offer such a feature. Internet Explorer, the most widely used browser, answered the call for a do-not-track system within just three months of the FTC asking for one , the Wall Street Journal reports. Mozilla previously announced Firefox will introduce a do-not-track feature, but no word yet on whether Google and Apple will offer similar tools in their browsers. (Click to read one take on why you shouldn’t be too worried about companies tracking you .) More»

Microsoft's latest puts it back ahead in browser wars

(NEWSER) - It's been quite a while since Microsoft was in the lead for browser innovation, but Internet Explorer 9—released in beta form yesterday—is good enough to lure some users back from Firefox and Chrome, say reviewers.

• IE9 "not only catches up with its competitors, but improves in several areas," writes Jared Newman at PC World , praising the lack of clutter and Microsoft's adoption of the "omnibar" for addresses and searching.