5 THINGS...TO KNOW BEFORE YOU OPEN INTERNET EXPLORER AGAIN

1 IT'S A DINOSAUR

Internet Explorer's last major update was in 2001, so it lacks the bells and whistles now standard in newer browsers. Get modern with Opera (opera.com) or Firefox (mozilla.org). Both include built-in Google search, pop-up blocking and RSS readers, and both can import your bookmarks from IE.

2 IT'S A SPACE HOG

Having two sites open at once in IE means having two windows open. Try one of the programs mentioned above, which use tabbed browsing instead. New pages launch as tabs within the same window, so it's easier to see what you have open and toggle between multiple sites.

3 YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE ATTACKED

IE holds 93 percent of the browser market, which makes it a big target for worms and viruses. Last June the Department of Homeland Security even suggested using a different browser. Take its advice and switch to one of the newer programs.

4 YOU CAN BEEF IT UP

If you must use IE, install an add-on shell such as Maxthon (maxthon.com) to add muscle to the interface. It doesn't solve Explorer's security issues, but it gives you tabbed browsing as well as better search and privacy features.

5 DON'T DITCH IT

Because IE is still the most widely used browser, Web sites are often optimized for it first and may not be as friendly to others. Opera users, for example, have problems with expedia.com. Keep a copy of IE around for finicky sites.