The Nation's Leading Weekly Computer News Summary - Browser Battle Begins with Microsoft Launch of Internet Explorer 3.0 - Microsoft Offers Free 128-Bit Encryption

Oct 13, 2026

EDP Weekly August 19, 1996 features a leading weekly computer news summary in its 37th year, highlighting Microsoft’s launch of Internet Explorer 3.0 and the competitive push against Netscape Navigator 3.0. The issue details Internet Explorer 3.0 enhancements, including promotional partnerships, HTML support, ActiveX technology, and multimedia playback. It also covers a free 128-bit encryption option, distribution plans via major online services and ISPs, and market research on retail software sales driven by online users and recent PC purchasers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Browser Battle Begins with Microsoft Launch of Internet Explorer 3.0

Microsoft Offers Free 128-Bit Encryption to Ease Internet Security Concerns

Online Service Subscribers Twice As Likely to Have Made A Recent Buy As Non-Subscribers

In This Issue

Vol.37 No.32 # The Nation's Leading Weekly Computer News Summary—Now In Its 37th Year ## BROWSER BATTLE BEGINSWITH MICROSOFT LAUNCHOF INTERNET EXPLORER 3.0 Archrival Netscape Scheduled To Release ThirdVersion Of Navigator This Week With every hope of snatching the “browser”lead away from archrival Netscape,Microsoft Corp.last week released the third version of its IntemetExplorer with various enhancements,promotional tie-ins and free content offers from top Web sites throughthe end of December.Netscape is scheduled to releaseNavigator 3.0 this week. “We're talking about who's going to be mar-shal of the wild frontier,"Richard Zwetchkenbaum,an(Continwed on Page 2) ## Microsoft Offers Free 128-Bit EncryptionTo Ease Internet Security Concerns Intermet Explorer 3.0 users who want a higherlevel of security can download at no charge a 128-bitencryption version from the Redmond,Wash.,softwaregiant's Web site(htup://micro-soft.com/ie/).Security ex-perts claim it is virtually impossible for anyone usingcurrent technology to listen in on Intemet traffic en-crypted with 128-bitsecurity.Due to export restrictionson this technology,128-bit encryption is available only inthe US.Federal regulations willrequire users tocompletean online affidavit before downloading the software,andtheir site will be checked to ensure the request is comingfrom within the US.Now available worldwide,the stan-dard version of Internet Explorer 3.0 offers 40-bit securesockets layer(SSL)security.The 128-bit version willinteroperate fully with any 40-bit browser or server butextends SSL to accommodate 128-bit encryption. EDP Weekly August 19,1996 ONLINE USERS,RECENT PCPURCHASERS DRIVINGRETAIL SOFTWARE SALES ## Online Service Subscribers Twice As Likely ToHave Made A Recent Buy As Non-Subscribers Consumers whopurchased aPCwithin thelastsix months were twice as likely to have purchased atleast one software package than those who acquiredtheirPCmore than ayear ago,according to a survey ofmore than 7,250 PCowners.(Conuinued an Page b) IN THIS ISSUE Optibase Sends Video Over E1/T1,RS422 Lines ……3 AOLAwards $1 Million To Sweepstakes Winner.…3 ReplyNet Offers Internet Addressing ….3 MARKET RESEARCH… ……4 Lucent Ships Slice Cellular Security Units …5 Microsoft Distributes Java Viewer For FutureTense.5 Pittsburgh Center Gets Cray T3E Supercomputer ...5 DATA/COMM NEWS -…6 Countrywide Home Loans Uses Netscape Platform ...8 Lotus,Apple Support Notes On Network Servers -..8 Business Objects Named Leading ISV… …9 EFT SPOTLIGHT -….9 UPCOMING EVENTS .10 Page 1 Publisher:S.L.Millin Group Publisher:Thomas G.Shack,IⅢ Managing Editor:Michael E.Cotter Senior Editor:Elizabeth J.Lohr analyst with Intemational Data Corp.in Framingham,Mass.,observed inTheWashington Post."Microsoftisputting maximum resources into getting this battle won.before end users start to believe that there really is analtemative." Both Intermet Explorer 3.0 and Navigator 3.0let users send and receive e-mail and offer top securitythrough a 128-bit encryption program,but there are afewkey differences: ●Intemet Explorer 3.0 only works with Win-dows95,while Navigator3.0can workwithmany typesof operating system software; Intemet Explorer 3.0 supports a homegrownlanguage called ActiveX that lets software developerswrite programs that will run inside Web pages andperform other tasks.Navigator 3.0 the supports thewidely publicized Java programming language. Microsoftcites thefollowingenhancements toits latest version of Intemet Explorer: MicrosoftNetMeeting.This conferencing soft-ware for real-time Intemet phone,multiuser dataconferencing and application sharing supports interma-tional standards.It enables two or more users to callfamily and friends internationally or work together inreal time.Mail and news software also jumps to a newlevelof powerandeasyuse.Users cann

FAQs

What browser competition is covered in this issue?

The issue compares Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 with Netscape Navigator 3.0, describing each company’s release schedule and positioning.

What security feature does Microsoft offer for Internet Explorer 3.0 users?

Microsoft offers a free 128-bit encryption version, aiming to ease internet security concerns by enabling stronger SSL encryption.

What does the market research section say about online users and PC buyers?

A survey of over 7,250 PC owners reports that online service subscribers are about twice as likely to have purchased recent software compared with non-subscribers.

Oct 13, 2026

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