First Public Beta Version of Internet Explorer 8 available for Download

Last week,Microsoft released Beta 1 version of its new browser baby,Internet Explorer 8 .This release is mainly meant for developers and not the end users.The most significant improvement is its compliance with the key web standards and the ACID2 tests.The other feature that fascinated me is the automatic crash recovery mechanism.

Download the internet Explorer 8 Beta according to your OS release here
Test how your browser displays the ACID face here

More information about the Second ACID Test Suite from wikipediaAbove picture shows the way my Firefox,2.0.x rendered the ACID face.Below figure show how IE6 rendered the same.

Phishing

Now a days Phishing has become a serious threat to the online banking system.Usually one becomes a victim due to lack of awareness on it.I read the following information on the HDFCBank site.Though it would be informative,sharing it here.Beware of Phishing
WHAT IS PHISHING

• Phishing is a modus operandi where in a customer gets an e-mail that deceptively claims to be from a particular enterprise (like your Bank) and asking for account sensitive information.
• Phishing is a spoofed e-mail that closely resembles the Bank notices. The mail aims to convince customers to divulge account sensitive information such as Credit Card Numbers, Passwords and PINs, Bank Account Details etc..
• These Phishing mails have a legitimate-looking URL or an image, which when clicked directs the affected user to the Phishing site where in the account sensitive details are captured.
• Alternatively, sometimes the customer is asked to download and install "Security" software attached to the spam e-mail and doing so by the customer, the scamster can retrieve all the account related details.

Some tips to Identify Phising Mails!

• These emails generally ask for sensitive account information like Usernames, Passwords, Credit Card or Debit Card Numbers over the email.
• The emails may include content, which is bound to make you react. For example, the email may have content which would state, "Please click here to update your Account Information in order to keep your Bank Account active". HDFC Bank will never send such emails. In such cases, always back check with the Bank.
• Secure Site: Always look on the address bar to ensure that the NetBanking site has https:// in the address link. The HDFC Bank address bar link is https://netbanking.hdfcbank.com.

PROTECTION FROM PHISHING

• Be wary of e-mail messages that ask for your account sensitive information such as Customer Id and IPIN details, Card related details or any other sensitive information in reference to your account.
• Unless the e-mail is digitally signed, you can never be 100% sure of its source!
• Do not click any links inside an e-mail of which you have the slightest suspicion. Instead use a web browser to reach a particular web address.
  (Type http://www.hdfcbank.com) instead of clicking on the link.
• Ensure that any Web site visited is secure when submitting sensitive information such as Credit Card numbers or using your NetBanking IPIN.
  1. One indication that a Web address is secure is if it starts with https:// rather than http://.
  2. Another indication is a padlock icon at the bottom of the screen, which when clicked, displays a security certificate.
• Ensure that your browser requirement is up-to-date for accessing NetBanking.
• Consider installing security software such as those offered by anti-virus specialists that can help detect virus, filter SPAM and/or ensure secure Internet Usage (firewalls).
• Turn off your computer when not in use, to avoid criminals gaining access and misusing it for fraudulent purposes, which includes launching Phishing attacks.
• If you receive any suspicious e-mail or website prompts which are asking for your private and confidential information in relation to your account with the Bank, please inform your bank people.
  
• If you suspect that you have become a victim of a Phishing attack and already have divulged your sensitive account information to fraudsters, please report to your home branch or call the nearest phone banking number.
  

Source:HDFC Bank
Related Phishing

AnswersTips Enabled

NetizensNest is AnswerTips enabled now.So you can double click a word to know more about it.

"AnswerTips^TM are small information bubbles that define any word when double-clicked. An AnswerTips-enabled site or blog means visitors get fast facts on 4 million topics provided by Answers.com when they double-click on any word, without opening a new browser or following outbound links. AnswerTips deliver instant definitions, explanations and facts including biographies, tech terms, geography, pop culture and much more."

Safari Browser for Windows

Mac users do not need intro to the term Safari.Now the fastest browser on Mac is available for Windows users also.Apple Team says, Safari is capable of loading the web pages upto twice as fast as IE and upto 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2.The safar 3 which is in Public Beta now can be downloaded here

Uninstalling the IE7

Some of the applications might not work in IE7.Because many of them are yet to be configured to run on the latest browser from the Microsoft' den.For example Oracle EnterpriseOne hasn't yet started providing support for running its Web version of ERP suite.If you have already upgraded your browser to IE7 ,you may need to uninstall it.
Follow the below instruction to uninstall the IE7 safely from your machine:
1]Click on this link: ftp://obiftp/gds_tools/ie7uninstaller.exe
2]Save the file to a location on your computer.
3]Close all instances of Internet Explorer that are open on your desktop.
4]Double-click the icon to run the uninstaller.
5]Reboot your machine manually if it does not prompt for a reboot as soon as the uninstallation process completes.
6]Internet Explorer 7 should be removed from your system.
Blocking the IE7 From Downloading

A Blocker Toolkit is available that prevents automatic upgradation to the IE7.This is for environments where Automatic Updates are enabled.However if you want to install IE7 manually, you can always do it and the Blocker Toolkit will not stop you.
For more info click here

Google Blog Search Pinging Service

The Google Blog Search Pinging Service is a way to inform Google Blog Search of blog updates.These updates are also shared with other search engines.All you need to do is manually submit your blog URL to the Google Blog Search Pinging portal whenever you have an update.To manually let Google Ping your Blog click here.
To Automate the process of Pinging your blog as said by Google, use the sample below and replace Netizensnest with your blog URL and run the string in the browser address bar.
"http://blogsearch.google.com/ping?name=NetizensNest&url=http%3A%2F%2FNetizensnest.blogspot.com
%2F&changesURL=http%3A%2F%2FNetizensnest.blogspot.com%2Fatom.xml"
Once Submitted successfully you shoud see "Thanks for the ping".
To see the recent list of submitted blog URLs Use

Submit you Blog Here Google Ping
More About Google ping

IE7 Beta 2

All the much awaited release of IE7 Beta 2 is out now.Here is the link to have a tour of the features and download the same.The Beta1 release that happened few months back probably helped the dev team in fixing some of the issues.I see all the promised features Viz tabbed browsing,Rss feed support,Side search providers similar to engines you get in firefox ,new look and ofcourse security stuff.
so test try now here

Firefox 2 Bon Echo

Today I downloaded the alpha version of the Firefox 2, named Bon Echo (Bon mean 'Good').Ffound some feel diff in the features and interface.One the major enhancement I observed as said in the feature list is , the facelift given to the History.The History of the visits has been neatly listed down.Another diff found is the close button being added to each tab.Lets see what new goodies are going to come..

1)Feature List
2)Download Alpha Version

Opera 8.5 Now Totally free

Microsoft unveiled its plans of next version of Internet Explorer,IE7.
Noise in the air give enough room for the forthcoming browser from the Goolge stable.
Opera is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Opera is losing market share due to its license fee.etc.,
I gues all these might have made Opera to make its banner-filled-free browser,completely free.Yes Opera,taglined 'Fastest browser on the Earth',made its Opera 8.5 version completely free.
After first try I am impressed with the features its easy Customisability,Managing Feeds,Tabbed browsing etc.,
Its worth trying.

• Download
• Features
  

Intenet Explorer 7

After several years of drought for an explorer from the microsoft stable, all is set for the release of the next version of IE.Although it was said IE 7,the next version will be available only with Windows Vista,later it came down to XP SP2 too.The IE7 beta is expected to release this summer.Going through some of the features....

Visual Enhancements
Tabbed browsing ,that enable users to browse and manage multiple sites in a single view.The problem with multiple browser windows is that it consumes lot of space on the task bar and often irritates users in browsing.

Toolbar Search Box ,This is a small box that lies at the Top-Right end of browser.I think it is similar to the Search engine tools available with Mozilla FireFox browser.
Cleaner Interface ,the menus and address bar,standar Buttons etc., are rearranged keeping easy accessibitly in mind.
Apart from these Shrink-to-Fit Printing,RSS Feed Support,Auto Web Feed Detection etc , etc are promised to be in visual enhancements.

Security Enhancements
Acording to Answers.com Phishing is

"Pronounced "fishing," it is a scam to steal valuable information such as credit card and social security numbers, user IDs and passwords. Also known as "brand spoofing," an official-looking e-mail is sent to potential victims pretending to be from their ISP, bank or retail establishment. E-mails can be sent to people on selected lists or on any list, expecting that some percentage of recipients will actually have an account with the real organization."

Example of a Phishing incident here
If you come accross any such incident please report it to www.antiphishing.org at here.

To know more about the new way Internet Explorer 7 protects against fraudulent websites and how anti-Phishing works ping here and download Anti-Phishing White paper.