I was happy with IE4, and I found IE5 to be just about perfect (although some tweaking of security was necessary to prevent serious bug infestations). Because of that, I delayed upgrading to IE6 until a few days ago - I was more than a little afraid of new version due to many negative reports about smart tags and a few other features.

As it turns out, IE6 is a fine browser, perhaps best yet (although I have not yet played with new version of Netscape). The browsing experience is very smooth, it's fast and efficient, and it seems to have just about everything you would expect.

One of features that I really like is new privacy options. While this does not by any means terminate privacy concerns with this browser, it is a good step in right direction. Whereas before, in all browsers, you can only treat all cookies same (accept them, prompt for them or block them), IE6 allows you to control cookies on a site-by-site basis. Even better, you can separately choose to turn off third-party cookies, and you can even treat session cookies as a separate case. I like it. Now if they would just add something similar to get rid of those annoying pop-up windows ...

On downside - IE6 is huge. The browser takes a tremendous amount of resources: memory, disk and CPU. IE6 also significantly modifies your system (unlike Netscape or Opera), which can be alarming. And, of course, you can expect usual two-to-a dozen emergency patches a month due to security holes. Some things simply do not change ...

As should be obvious, I like this browser. It does what I expect from a browser - it lets me browse and gets out of my way. It's fast, it's smooth and it works well. That's all that I want.

So point is to get as much traffic to site as fast as possible, which is why page from a proven high-traffic site is stolen. It already works and no development is needed. Once traffic arrives, as many banners, links and other advertisements must be shown as quickly as possible (but not so quickly as to crash system or prevent them from being viewed or clicked). This gives your poor trapped visitors plenty of opportunity to see banners, click on them or even possible buy something (you never know).

Ah, but wait, it can get even worse. Up until this point site has been playing with browser, which has some reasonable security (usually) and must follow a set of rules. But what if site tries to download an ActiveX control or an executable file? Yes, browser will ask you if it's okay (unless you've had a serious case of stupids and turned off ALL security) and only install or run it if you say yes.

But if you do say yes, then you've potentially added, willingly I might add because browser did ask for permission, a totally unknown element to your system. There is absolutely no telling what this could do. In fact, it might do anything at all.

This program does not usually destroy anything. No, what it wants to do is dial up a phone number - a 900-type number. You know, one of those phone lines which charges by minute.

Now you are really in trouble and you will not even know it until you get your phone bill. Something on your computer, something over which you have no control, can do anything it wants, including charging you money on your phone bill. And heaven help you if you, in some moment of insanity, give this program your credit card number or numbers. (And, of course, it could theoretically scan your hard drive for such things).

So what do you do to protect yourself from mousetraps or worse? Number one, set reasonable security. What I like to do is define internet as high security (this is done using "security" tab of "Internet Options"). This prevents javascript and other dangers from running at all. When I find a site which I trust which requires these features, I add it to trusted sites list. Thus, it's not possible (baring a browser bug) for a site to even begin to cause me trouble.

If you don't want to go through those lengths, you can examine security tab and set things to "prompt" instead of "enable". Be especially sure all ActiveX controls at least prompt (never, ever allow ActiveX controls to install themselves without at least your permission).

If you do go to a site which traps you, don't panic. Close windows, trying not to click on any links or banners (why give them any more money) as quickly as you can. Then make a mental not to never, ever come back. You might also shoot an email off to webmaster and perhaps some of their advertisers protesting their use of these tactics. This way you make your feelings known and perhaps produce a change.