Version: 2008
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Browsers

If you're looking for browsers or browser extensions, CNET Download.com has you covered. We feature all the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more, as well as Firefox extensions, Internet Explorer add-ons, even RSS readers. If you want to surf the Web, CNET Download.com is the place to start. See all 3,641 products in this category.

for the week of: November 15Downloads
  1. 1.
    Mozilla Firefox

    Web Browsers77,505

  2. 2.
    Flash Player

    Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins64,154

  3. 3.
    Internet Explorer

    Web Browsers52,549

  4. 4.
    Avant Browser

    Web Browsers41,579

  5. Watch your favorite videos on your favorite devices.
  6. 5.
    Google Chrome

    Web Browsers21,246

  7. 6.
    Opera

    Web Browsers13,811

  8. 7.
    ieSpell

    Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins8,914

  9. Convert PDF files to Word and Excel documents.
  10. 8.
    SlimBrowser

    Web Browsers7,651

  11. 9.
    Apple Safari

    Web Browsers7,457

  12. 10.
    Mozilla Firefox

    Web Browsers7,352

See all most popular software

  1. Build your own photography website for free
Release date
  1. Microsoft Silverlight Nov 19

    Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins

  2. WhosIP Nov 19

    Web Browsers

  3. UltraBrowser Nov 19

    Web Browsers

  4. Binary Vortex Nov 19

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  5. Evernote Web Clipper Nov 18

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  6. WebSite-Watcher Nov 18

    Web Browsers

  7. Mozilla Firefox Nov 18

    Web Browsers

  8. Squidoo Nov 18

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  9. Instant Highlighter Nov 18

    Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins

  10. Printee for IE Nov 18

    Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins

See all new releases

  1. 1.
    Mozilla Firefox

    Surf the Web, block pop-ups, and keep spyware at bay with a lean and fast open-source browser.

  2. 2.
    Internet Explorer

    Browse the Web with tabs, improved RSS support, and robust security features.

  3. 3.
    Opera

    Browse faster with Turbo, Speed Dial, mouse gestures, and spell checker.

  4. 4.
    Maxthon (Classic)

    Surf the Net with pop-up filtering, tabbed navigation, and automatic page-scrolling.

  5. 5.
    SlimBrowser

    Browse multiple Web sites in one window with a pop-up blocker, ad filter, and quick-search features.

  6. 6.
    Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer

    Update your IE browsing experience with Google gadgets, AutoFill, translation, saved settings, and synchronized bookmarks.

  7. 7.
    Yahoo Toolbar with Anti Spyware

    Search the Web from anywhere, block pop-ups or spyware, and get one-click access to your mail.

  8. 8.
    Xnews

    Try this NewsXpress-like newsreader.

  9. 9.
    McAfee SiteAdvisor for Internet Explorer

    Add safety ratings to sites and search results to protect against adware, spam, and online scams.

  10. 10.
    McAfee SiteAdvisor for Firefox

    See safety ratings for the sites and search results to protect yourself against online scam.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

Seize Seesmic Twitter app on BlackBerry, Android

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Nov 20, 2009
Twitter service Seesmic expands from the desktop with two new apps for Google Android and BlackBerry phones.
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an introduction to Browsers

Browsers, often called Web browsers, are software clients that allow users to navigate to sites on the World Wide Web. The majority of these Web sites use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but many browsers can also interpret other protocols, including FTP, RSS, and P2P protocols such as BitTorrent. Hypertext pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first ever Web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990, but the software didn't become popular until the release of NCSA Mosaic, the first graphical client.

Browsers truly hit the mainstream with the launch of Netscape Navigator, which was later shortened to simply Netscape, though the free client's popularity was radically affected by the 1995 release of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's entry into the browser market. In the years since, IE has completely dominated the market, only recently losing ground to alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

Aside from general Web browsers, various subsets of the category offer special services. Offline browsers cache content from the Internet for future reference when you're not connected to a network. Newsreaders manage content from Usenet newsgroups and syndicated feeds.

In recent years, the open-source browser Mozilla Firefox has earned praise for the ability of third-party developers to easily create extensions that add functionality. Among the thousands of home-brewed add-ons for Firefox, we've narrowed down our favorites in a collection of the best. The Microsoft browser also allows for IE add-ons, but its closed framework makes it a bit more difficult for developers.