SINGAPORE: Web browsers are most essential requirements for users to access the Internet. With an upsurge in virus, malware, spyware attacks, etc., choosing a good browser in terms of security and compatibility is prime among nearly all Web users. Apple recently entered the browser domain unveiled Safari, its own Web browser for Windows. Apple claims that Safari is the most 'secure' among the existing browsers.

In an interaction with Abhigna N.G. of CIOL, Darren Sng, senior software product marketing manager, Asia Pacific, Apple, spoke at length about the latest security features provided by Apple within Safari. Excerpts from an interview:

CIOL: What is Apple Safari? How it is different from the other Web browsers?

Darren Sng: Safari is the fastest browser on Macs, and now it's the fastest browser on Windows. On 11 June 2007, Apple announced Safari 3 for Windows PCs and Macs based on the industry standard iBench tests. Safari has a number of other new features that make it the best Web browser on the Mac. For example, Safari puts everything you need to browse, search, view RSS feeds and manage your bookmarks in a clean, easy-to-use navigation bar.
 
Safari also allows private browsing. This basically allows you users to hide their surfing tracks during any given session. Say, you're surfing from a cyber café and you're concerned about security, the private browsing option doesn't retain cookies, add items to history or downloads window, save information for autofill, or retain a history of your Google searches. Additionally, when you click a link on a Web page that links to a PDF file, Safari downloads the file and displays it inline, right inside the browser window.

With the new HTML formatting support in Mail, it is simple to send the contents of a Web page with perfect fidelity right from Safari. You can also archive Web pages to save for the future. Finally, parental controls are built into Safari to allow you to limit your child's browsing to just the Web sites you select.