By Craig Spiezle, Director, Windows Security & Privacy Product Management

I would like to welcome you to RSA.  Just a month ago Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 8 beta 1 for developers.  Internet Explorer 8 expands on Microsoft's security and privacy investments in Internet Explorer and helps deliver an end-to-end approach to protection.  The new browser includes security features focused on social engineering, new defenses against Web server-based attacks, and additional improvements driven by the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) intended to address the browser-based exploits. 

IE 8 has been build upon the progress we’ve made against the latest generation of social engineering and server-side attacks as well as exploits targeted at the browser, yet online crime and deception continues to increase across many vectors.   The first line of defense against these types of attacks is more secure coding practices. IE 7 was the first browser to be developed under the rigor of the SDL and has been shown to have fewer vulnerabilities in its first year of release (14 fixed) compared to IE 6 (28 fixed), a trend we expect to continue with IE 8.

Core to the IE team’s mission is our commitment to offer consumers increased safety and functionality.  One of our goals for IE 8 is to provide users choice and control without being overwhelmed by too many trust decisions, while providing businesses the ability to customize deployment.  We’re focused on making sure IE 8 delivers the safest online experience, enhancing users’ peace of mind.

Visit us in the Microsoft booth and attend theater presentations daily to learn more about IE 8.  Download the beta today at www.microsoft.com/ie/ie8 or read more on my colleague Eric’s blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/

Craig Spiezle, Director, Windows Security & Privacy Product Management