February 1, 2006 2:22 PM PST

IE 7 bugs abound

By Joris Evers
Staff Writer, CNET News

Last modified: February 2, 2006 9:06 AM PST

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Related Stories: FAQ: Getting a handle on Windows Vista
November 29, 2006; Microsoft releases IE 7 beta to public
January 31, 2006; Public beta of IE 7 nears
December 8, 2005

update People didn't lose any time in finding bugs in the latest preview release of Internet Explorer 7.

It's been but a day since Microsoft publicly released a test version of Internet Explorer 7, but Internet news groups and blogs are already teeming with bug reports. Also, one security researcher claims he found a security vulnerability in the new Web browser.

Issues reported several times include compatibility problems with McAfee security software and trouble installing the browser due to unnamed anti-spyware and antivirus tools. Some testers also said using certain features or surfing to specific Web sites caused the browser to hang or crash.

Video: A look at Internet Explorer 7
Microsoft releases beta of latest browser

Microsoft made a preview version of IE 7 beta 2 publicly available on Tuesday, but the product is not fully baked, the company has said. The release is meant to give developers and IT professionals a chance to test-drive the software and give feedback to Microsoft so that the final version, expected later this year, and upcoming test releases, will have no, or at least fewer, issues.

The public preview release of IE 7 includes many of the features Microsoft has been touting for months. Among them are new security and privacy protection capabilities such as mechanisms designed to combat phishing attacks, spyware and other threats.

But browser testers may already be at risk, according to security researcher Tom Ferris. Late Tuesday, Ferris released details of a potential security flaw in IE 7. An attacker could exploit the flaw by crafting a special Web page that could be used to crash the browser or gain complete control of a vulnerable system, Ferris said in an advisory on his Web site.

Microsoft confirmed the security flaw and said it crashes IE, but is not exploitable by default to commandeer a PC, a company representative said on the IE team blog late Wednesday. The bug is scheduled to be fixed before the next public IE 7 release and was actually already found in Microsoft's own code review and analysis, the representative wrote. A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed the authenticity of the blog post.

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Read the review of the beta version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 browser at CNET.com

Also, the preview version of IE 7 clashes with some security software. Users reported that after they had downloaded and installed the beta, McAfee security software failed to display any text or graphics in their Windows when opened. Reinstalling the applications had no effect, according to the user reports.

"I have McAfee Internet Security Suite on my system, and when IE 7 is loaded, neither work," one tester wrote in Microsoft's news groups. "Surely...getting the system to work with an industry leader is a small price to pay."

Microsoft acknowledged the compatibility issues with the McAfee software in a response on the IE team blog. "The McAfee issue is known, and we'll work on this for a future build," a Microsoft representative wrote on the blog.

McAfee also said it is working to fix the problem with IE 7. "While the issue affects the way in which users view the McAfee interface, McAfee's automated protection is still running and protecting the user's systems," a company representative said in an e-mailed statement.

Other people had trouble installing IE 7 altogether, reporting an error during installation that stated a file called "msfeeds.dll" could not be found. This problem stems from compatibility issues with unnamed security applications, a Microsoft representative wrote in a blog post.

"Some anti-spyware and antivirus software is known to interfere with IE 7's ability to install," a Microsoft representative wrote. The software maker offers a work-around and otherwise recommends users wait until a future IE 7 release that it hopes will address the problem.

See more CNET content tagged:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, McAfee Inc., Microsoft Internet Explorer, McAfee Internet Security, tester

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 100 comments (Showing first 20 comments)

One bug I found
by sidewinder February 1, 2006 2:56 PM PST: Going to the CtrlAltDel Premium pages (Blindferret secure pages) causes a BSoD. I was able to recreate the BSoD simply by visiting the page again.; Reply to this comment View reply
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IE 7 beta and Comcast High-Speed Internet users
by 1habn1 February 1, 2006 3:04 PM PST: Microsoft has also shut out all Comcast High-Speed Internet users who rely on the McAfee Security Suite from using IE 7 beta. Comcast.net, the home page site of every Comcast HSI customer, requires Internet Explorer.

Comcast is the largest broadband provider in the U.S.

Microsoft *must be* going after the Firefox crowd, because it ain't clear that it's going after the IE crowd, unless IE crowd is defined as "anybody but the biggest group jointly using broadband and IE."; Reply to this comment View all 7 replies
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Please, stop complaining. You asked for it.
by aabcdefghij987654321 February 1, 2006 3:27 PM PST: Use IE, or any Microsoft product for that matter, get shafted. Plain and simple.; Reply to this comment View all 3 replies
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"toolbar" is somewhat buggy.
by Grzegorz_Z February 1, 2006 3:42 PM PST: When I open new tab, the last icon on toolbar always hide after that '>>' mark. Even if there are plenty of space for tabs. Also sometimes when I switch between tabs, some weird window-wide "bar" appears between tabs row and the web page.

In general - new 'user interface' sucks. It is especially true when I look on non-customizable toolbar width "back" "forward" "refresh" and "stop" buttons. I used to old scheme and I simply wanted IE6 UI with tabs added. Nothing more new about UI. Because of that I will probably stay width Firefox.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Newsmaker of the century
by Azio February 1, 2006 4:37 PM PST: STOP PRESS! BUGS FOUND IN BETA PRODUCT! READ ALL ABOUT IT!; Reply to this comment View reply
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I find the whole story offensive..
by robertcampbell2 February 1, 2006 5:09 PM PST: I wish C|net would put one of those "Report as offensive" buttons for whole stories or articles. I use it in a minute for this type of story. The author must be desparate to write a hatchet job on a "preview beta" piece of software. What a freakin' joke.; Reply to this comment View all 5 replies
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Wimps and wallflowers
by Jerry Dawson February 1, 2006 6:25 PM PST: Conclusion. So, when anyone from outside the US of A levels a criticism... you all wilt. Shrink and die. You're all thinking, if M$ makes money, so will we. Because you're M$ shareholders, right? If the answer is no, then you won't, and you're in the same ******** as the rest of us. M$ is 100% 'mercan, yeah right, shove it.. M$ is a plague...; Reply to this comment View reply
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Cannot render CNET pages
by spammagnet February 1, 2006 8:36 PM PST: IE7 cannot place images in the right location on HTML pages such as eBay, and this News.com page of CNet.
Seems like an important thing, as I am getting tired of not being able to read the captions. Oh well, you get what you pay for...; Reply to this comment

Thankyou
by heystoopid February 1, 2006 9:06 PM PST: Thankyou, rather than be the guinea pig, I'll stick with the more secure and internet standards compliant mozilla style browsers!

Maybe by version 7.5+++ it may be more stable and secure?; Reply to this comment View reply
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ie 7 BETA.....keyword Beta
by lennykutch February 2, 2006 5:26 AM PST: IE 7 is BETA! not everything is set in stone yet...i dont get why everybody is going crazy over this. I dont like acouple things that ie7 beta has to offer but thats all that it is right now....BETA! Test it out...try to crash it...do anything you want to it...its for beta testers not your everyday user yet!; Reply to this comment View reply
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Beta...no Beta
by MrTeo February 2, 2006 6:50 AM PST: Tried installing the beta, but in the middle of the installation, it halted telling me there were some missing files, it aborted itself, and died with no IE7 in sight....I suppose I shouldn't expect anything more since it is a Beta, oh well.; Reply to this comment

Ya its beta and how about firefox issues?
by mcepat February 2, 2006 8:35 AM PST: Title Date
Mozilla Firefox History Information Denial of Service Weakness 2005-12-08

Mozilla Firefox Iframe Size Denial of Service Weakness 2005-10-06

Firefox Multiple Vulnerabilities 2005-09-23

Firefox Command Line URL Shell Command Injection 2005-09-20

Firefox IDN URL Domain Name Buffer Overflow 2005-09-09

Firefox Multiple Vulnerabilities 2005-07-13

Firefox Property Manipulation Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability 2005-07-13

Mozilla / Firefox / Camino Dialog Origin Spoofing Vulnerability 2005-06-21

Mozilla / Mozilla Firefox Frame Injection Vulnerability 2005-06-06

Mozilla Firefox Download Dialog Spoofing Vulnerabilities 2005-05-12

Mozilla Firefox Two Vulnerabilities 2005-05-08

Mozilla Firefox Multiple Vulnerabilities 2005-04-18

Mozilla Firefox JavaScript Engine Information Disclosure Vulnerability 2005-04-04

Mozilla Firefox Three Vulnerabilities 2005-03-24

Firefox "Save Link As..." Status Bar Spoofing Weakness 2005-03-14

Mozilla / Firefox / Thunderbird Multiple Vulnerabilities 2005-03-01

Mozilla / Firefox "Save Link As" Download Dialog Spoofing 2005-03-01

Mozilla Firefox Image Javascript URI Dragging Cross-Site Scripting 2005-03-01

Mozilla / Firefox Three Vulnerabilities 2005-02-08

Firefox / Mozilla / Thunderbird Multiple Vulnerabilities 2005-01-31

Mozilla / Mozilla Firefox Dialog Overlapping Weakness 2005-01-12

Mozilla / Mozilla Firefox Download Dialog Source Spoofing 2005-01-04

Mozilla / Mozilla Firefox Window Injection Vulnerability 2004-12-08

Mozilla Firefox Multiple Vulnerabilities 2004-11-10

Mozilla / Firefox / Thunderbird Downloaded File Content Disclosure 2004-10-25; Reply to this comment View reply
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You have got to be kidding me
by hstahl76 February 2, 2006 8:41 AM PST: Newsflash: It's a BETA. Repeat that word until it sinks in: beta. That means its not a final release and omg, are you ready for this, it will have bugs!

If the final version of IE7 has bugs/flaws then by all means go nuts about stories as they would be deserved. But until then, get a clue CNet.; Reply to this comment

Oh and here's a link that provides all the firefox bugs
by mcepat February 2, 2006 8:43 AM PST: I believe this is for current version

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Category:Issues_%28Firefox%29

I am reading posting that firefox 2.0 STILL IN BETA has tons of bugs (can't believe that!)

when I get this listing I will post; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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the keyword is beta
by thedreaming February 2, 2006 8:50 AM PST: It's a beta, not a final release and until then, don't expect it to work 100% of the time. At the same time, they did put it out there so you can see what they've done and also help them find the bugs faster.

If they listen, they'll fix every little problem that people are finding and make ie a worthwhile browser to use. if they ignore people, it'll be the same old thing again.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Beta means not all bugs worked out
by pentium4forever February 2, 2006 9:13 AM PST: IE 7 is beta, what can you expect? It's likely to still have some bugs and will need to be worked out. Microsoft should work all the bugs out and not release a final version UNTIL all bugs are worked out.; Reply to this comment

Install Nightmare
by SeizeCTRL February 2, 2006 10:33 AM PST: IE7 Beta2 would not install on top of Beta1. Got an alert to tell me to uninstall IE7 from Add Remove Programs and to click Show Updates. So I did. Install again, failed, tried again and again, failed. Tells me to check system logs, but nothing in any of my logs suggests why the install goes all the way to the end but decides to fail. Now I can't install IE7 Beta1, or IE6 because the version I have installed is newer. Yet there is no IE at all on my system right now. Just an empty folder minus the ICW folder.; Reply to this comment

ie7 email bug
by system001 February 2, 2006 10:46 AM PST: i installed beta 2 of ie7. after testing it on with sites i visit alot i found my pages loaded very fast. i also receiveds one of the highest scores from dsal reports to date. however when i went to my email and clicked a link i had a folder open instead of the link. once i uninstall ie7 i tried the link again and it opened properly in firefox. i do not believe this is an unknown bug by microsoft. it seems everytime they do a beta of a product that their beta breaks something in a competing product. microsoft needs to learn that they can coexist out there. they do not need to own everything.; Reply to this comment

and
by SeizeCTRL February 2, 2006 10:52 AM PST: neither will using OS/2 in this day and age

my first ThinkPad came with OS/2 Warp. Those days were painful!; Reply to this comment

Testing
by wethead February 2, 2006 12:23 PM PST: Testing. Is this thing on?; Reply to this comment

See all 100 Comments >>

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