Addressing a Better Browsing Experience
Internet Explorer 6 is one of the most popular browsers in the history of the Internet. It was released in 2001, just as the web was becoming a part of mainstream life. IE6 was the #1 browser until IE7 replaced it in 2006. Now, in 2009, Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5 are available, however nearly 1/3 of web users and QuickBooks Online customers are still using IE6 or IE7.
These newer browsers offer so much more than IE6, it’s definitely worth upgrading. The new browsers are faster, more secure, and provide more screen real-estate. Here is one example of a feature that helps protect you against phishing attacks.
The screen snapshot below shows the address bar of IE8. Notice how it highlights the actual domain that I’m visiting: quickbooks.com. This assures me that I’m currently connected to Intuit’s QuickBooks Online site, and not an imposter that may try to steal my identity.
Internet Explorer 8 Pointing to the Real QuickBooks Online
Now, here is the address bar from a link that I received in an email, warning me that I owe back taxes. Notice that the people that sent me the link wanted me to believe it was from the IRS, because the first part of the URL is www.irs.gov. However, the real address is something even more sinister.
Internet Explorer 8 Pointing to a Phishing Site
IE8 highlights the real domain for this link, and tells me that this has nothing to do with the IRS. If I would have entered my social security number, I would have been in trouble.
In addition to the many security fixes and features, the new browsers are faster to load web pages and they can save a lot of screen real estate by using multiple tabs to view different pages plus they place the search bar right next to the address bar.
If you are still using IE6, consider upgrading to either IE8 or Firefox.
If you want to keep score on which browsers are in use on the internet, check out the Browser Statistics at w3schools.com.
John Ruberto
About Me: I’m part of the QuickBooks Online Quality team. When I’m not testing the best small business accounting online service, you might find me on my favorite trout stream.
