March 7, 2008 (Computerworld) Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 1 for developers, released by Microsoft on March 6, offers some fascinating new capabilities. For example, it introduces two new features called Activities and WebSlices that extend the capabilities of the browser by interacting with other Web sites and services.

There are also a variety of other changes, including some much-needed additions, such as a feature that will restore crashed browser sessions and tabs. I'll highlight what features are new and discuss how they may work when IE8 is finally released.

This review focuses only on the actual user experience of using IE8 though the beta has been released for developers. We didn't test aspects of the beta that are targeted to developers or that are concerned with underlying compatibilities and standards. For example, IE8 now includes a Developer Tools feature, which includes tools for HTML, CSS, scripting and debugging. Microsoft claims that the browser includes better scripting performance, and support for HTML5. And in the final version, although not this one, Microsoft claims that IE8 will have full CSS 2.1 support.

Finally, I tested IE8 for Windows XP, rather than the Windows Vista version (both versions have the same features).

Installation and a first look

The initial Windows XP download of IE8 weighs in at 14.4MB. When launched, it downloads other components and installs in less than 15 minutes. All in all, it's quite a painless install.

When you first start IE after installation, you're asked whether you want use "express settings." These are, in essence, a variety of Microsoft services, such as Live Search for search, Maps with Live Maps for mapping, Windows Hotmail for e-mail and so on.

The IE8 setup screen.

You can also choose to adjust your settings manually; however, since many of these services tie into one of IE8's new features called Activities, be careful about changing some of the defaults, such as for displaying maps of any location highlighted on a Web page.

After you either choose your own settings or go with the defaults, IE 8 actually launches.

IE8 looks much like IE7 at first, with a few exceptions. The first is that what was formerly known as the Links toolbar has been integrated with the Favorites icons, and combined into a single toolbar called the Favorites toolbar. You can still make the toolbar disappear, though, as you could the Links toolbar, by selecting View -->Toolbars and unchecking Favorites Bar. (Note: If you're using IE8 for Vista, you'll have to first make the Menu Bar appear by pressing the Alt button.)

Congratulations -- you've launched IE8.

A particularly nice new feature, and one that I hope makes it into the final version of IE8, is the small Emulate IE7 button near the top of the screen. If there are any compatibility issues between IE8 and a Web site -- with a new browser, you never know -- just click the button, and it will fool the site into thinking you're running IE7. I'm not sure if this feature is for the developer-only version or if it will make it into the final (hopefully, most Web sites will be IE8-compatible by the time it's out of beta), but it would be nice if it stayed in.

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AVG Anti Spyware description
AVG Anti-Spyware - Detect and remove the spyware on your computer

AVG Anti-Spyware is a brand-new program brought to you by Grisoft that will detect and remove the spyware on your computer. Using AVG Anti-Spyware you can perform a complete system scan, a fast system scan, but also registry scans, memory scans and custom scans.

Using AVG Anti-Spyware you can detect and remove running processes, browser plug-in, auto starting applications, available connections. AVG Anti-Spyware has a variety of other tweaks and a powerful file shredder.

Here are some key features of "AVG Anti Spyware":
 

•  Cutting-edge anti-spyware technology — Using the latest state-of-the-art detection technology, AVG detects spyware, adware, DLL-trojans, keyloggers, and much more. Malware hidden in data streams, archives, or the Windows registry is also detected. AVG also scans the memory to detect active threats.
   
•  Full on-access protection — The powerful AVG Resident Shield provides maximum protection by scanning every file opened, executed, or saved. It also prevents the opening or executing of malware. Self-protection at the kernel layer guarantees gapless monitoring by preventing malware from disabling your anti-spyware protection.
   
• Automatic threat handling — AVG can automatically clean infected files and remove other threats such as trojans, dialers, hijackers, spyware, and keyloggers. Suspicious files can be safely moved into quarantine.
   
• High-level scanning capabilities — AVG detects sleeping and non-dangerous malware (i.e., malware that has been downloaded but not yet activated). It uses strong signatures to defeat attempts to avoid detection via malware variation, and can securely detect and delete DLL-trojans. With generic crypter and binder technology as well as heuristic analysis, AVG offers your computer the most comprehensive detection of malware.
   
• User friendly and intelligent operation — In addition to an intuitive user interface, AVG offers easily configured intelligent updating and simple scheduling of tasks. Configuring program exceptions is straightforward and allows you to exclude specified programs from AVG’s thorough scanning.
   
• Complete set of analysis tools – AVG Anti-Spyware allows you to check and control your computer with a wide array of analysis tools such as viewers for processes, connections, browser plug-in, startup entries etc. It also features a shredder for secure file deletion and a tool to harden your Windows installation.

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Features of CCleaner 2.0:

• Complete rebuild in C++
  With the requirements for a portable version, 64-bit compatibility and Windows Vista increasing against the limitations of the old architecture. We decided to rebuild the entire CCleaner application in highly optimized C++.
• Faster analyzing and cleaning
  Each scanning process was rewritten from scratch and fully optimized. The result being a noticeable speed increase in all areas.
• Portable
  CCleaner can now run from a USB thumbdrive and be installed/run on a computer without a complicated setup process.
• Compact
  The rewrite removed all external file dependencies, so the main EXE is now half the size of the original program and support files.
• Redesigned User Interface
  The original CCleaner user interface was looking a little dated, so the GUI was redesigned with a modern look, but without sacrificing speed or usability. New icons were created for the interface and the main program icon was updated with a more modern style.
• Exclusions
  It is now possible to specify files, folders and registry keys to ignore from the cleaning process.
• Loads of little tweaks
  Too numerous to mention them all separately, we've tried to improve CCleaner in all areas.

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UnHackMe - First BootWatch AntiRootkit!

Now it is the must have tool for you!

UnHackMe
is specially designed to detect and remove Rootkits.

A rootkit is a program that a hacker uses to mask intrusion and obtain administrator-level access to a computer or computer network. The intruder installs a rootkit on a computer using a user action or by exploiting a known vulnerability or cracking a password. The rootkit installs a backdoor giving the hacker a full control of the computer. It hides their files, registry keys, and process names, and network connections from your eyes.

Your antivirus could not detect such programs because they use compression and encryption of its files. The sample software is Hacker Defender rootkit.

UnHackMe allows you to detect and remove Rootkits.

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