From...

October 4, 1999
Web posted at: 9:57 a.m. EDT (1357 GMT)

by Max Green

(IDG) -- A few years ago, pundits were fond of speculating on whether Microsoft or Netscape Communications would win the most browser users. Today, many of us are less concerned with taking sides in that battle than with finding the most friction-free way to experience the Web. This week's batch of hit shareware and freeware from FileWorld is meant to help with that quest. Along with the big two browsers, we offer two lesser-knowns that have their own advantages, as well as add-ins that protect your privacy, help you search, let you switch browsers with ease, and more. If you want to experiment with more browser-enhancing add-ins, click "More browser extras," link below.

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Top 10 browsers

1. Internet Explorer 5.0: Version 5.0 of Internet Explorer features a smaller footprint and faster rendering than earlier versions, and also includes a function that fills out Web forms automatically. You can also switch between preset radio stations and call up a search screen with a keyword. This free package includes Outlook Express, NetMeeting, and FrontPage Express. Note: Your PC must be connected to the Internet to download and install IE5.

2. Netscape Communicator 4.6: The popular free Web communications suite lets you browse and create Web pages, send e-mail, and chat. This version offers you local information (such as weather and movie times), and it features RealPlayer G2, PalmPilot syncing tools, and 56-bit cryptography for secure transactions.

3. NeoPlanet: This fully functional free Web browser and "portable portal" is based on the Internet Explorer engine.

4. HistoryKill 98: The $15 HistoryKill protects your privacy by deleting cached files and cookies while you browse the Web and after your session. This version adds auto-configuration capabilities, an auto-clearing at boot-up option, and support for Windows 95, 98, and NT.

5. Copernic 99: This free search agent retrieves information from the Web, newsgroups, and e-mail directories. It uses information sources such as AltaVista, Excite, Yahoo, HotBot, Infoseek, Lycos, Magellan, Open Text, WebCrawler, and DejaNews. The results are displayed in order of relevancy, and duplicates and unreachable documents are automatically filtered out.

6. MSIE Son of Cuartango Patch: This free file contains Microsoft's updated "Untrusted Scripted Paste" patch for Internet Explorer. The new patch fixes both the original security hole named after researcher Juan Carlos Garcia Cuartango and a recently discovered variant of the problem.

7. Favtool: Have you ever wanted to switch browsers but were worried whether your bookmarks would survive the move? This free utility converts your bookmarks from Netscape Navigator to Microsoft Internet Explorer and vice versa.

8. I-Comm: Unlike Navigator and its competitors, this $40 Web browser doesn't require any SLIP or PPP connection to surf the Web. Instead, you can browse sites with any Windows PC, modem, and Internet shell, VAX, or Freenet account.

9. WebDrive: Make Internet FTP sites look like network drives with this FTP client. WebDrive lets you edit files on your FTP server using your favorite editing applications. Features include name-and-password log-in support, file and directory caching for quick access, firewall and proxy-server support, and UNIX file attribute support.

10. Intermark WebSnake: Formerly called Anawave WebSnake, this utility supports offline browsing, Web-site mirroring (including directory structures), e-mail address retrieval, site maps, and advanced file searches.