The recent whip on Microsoft's front runner IE6 (Internet Explorer 6) browser couldn't bring it down as it jumped back to numero uno position with its new browser IE8. NetApps reckons, IE8 became the world's most popular browser during January, gaining 22.31 per cent of the market and overtaking IE6 for the first time.

IE6 popularity was credited to its OS (Operating System) , Windows XP. However, Windows XP is now in decline and with the recent hacker attack it is losing its penultimate position.

Nonetheless, Internet Explorer 8 comes with a number of improvements and innovations that raise the bar for Web browsers and helps to make the Web surfing experience more productive and efficient, as well as more secure. Features like bell and whistle, accelerators- provide one-click access to common functions like mapping or searching from within a webpage etc., have been added.

Keeping a vigil eye on security Microsoft has appended SmartScreen filter. This filter includes a handful of different tools to protect your computer from Web-based threats and social engineering or phishing scam tactics. SmartScreen blocks sites that are identified as malicious, either through IE8's heuristic detection, or by comparing against an accumulated database of known malicious sites.

With all the securities intact, still there's no ideal condition. Loopholes in the technology if found will have to face a condition akin IE6.