Internet Explorer 3

Internet Explorer 3.0 was released free of charge on the August 13, 1996. Microsoft thus made no direct revenues on IE and was liable to pay Spyglass only the minimum quarterly fee. In 1997, Spyglass threatened Microsoft with a contractual audit, in response to which Microsoft settled for $8 million U.S.{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=16683&DisplayTab=Article|title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up|date=January 22, 1997|access-date=2007-02-25|author=Paul Thurrott|work=Windows IT Pro|publisher=Penton Media Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155349/http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=16683&DisplayTab=Article|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}} Version 3 included Internet Mail and News 1.0 and the Windows Address Book. It brought the browser much closer to the bar that had been set by Netscape, including the support of Netscape's plugins technology (NPAPI), ActiveX, frames, and a reverse-engineered version of JavaScript named JScript. Later, Microsoft NetMeeting and Windows Media Player were integrated into the product and thus helper applications became not as necessary as they once were. CSS were introduced with version 3 of Internet Explorer. While IE1 and IE2 were said to have "paled" in comparison to Netscape, IE3 "delivers a crushing blow to Netscape".{{cite web |url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/2801/internet-explorer-30.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630010046/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/2801/internet-explorer-30.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2012 |title=Internet Explorer 3.0 |work=WindowsITPro |publisher=Penton Media |date=1 November 1996 |access-date=28 December 2012 |first=Jonathan |last=Chau }} The user interface notably changes, with much larger buttons, with more intricate icons, and with a light gray design behind it.{{cite web |url=http://www.technorhetoric.net/1.3/features/dorwick/navigate.htm |title=Rethinking The Academy: How to Navigate This Text Without Getting Lost |publisher=Technorhetoric.net |date=31 August 1996 |access-date=28 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704233338/http://www.technorhetoric.net/1.3/features/dorwick/navigate.htm |archive-date=4 July 2013 }} Unlike later IE versions, users who upgraded to IE3 could still use the last IE by converting the previous version to a separate directory. It could import favorites into IE3 from IE1 or 2. The competition between Netscape and Microsoft heated up, with some saying the Internet community "became polarized on the issue of which web browser had the most features." Other new features included ActiveMovie multimedia API, HTML Layout Control,{{cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1996/06/10/microsoft-announces-utilities-for-advanced-web-page-development/ |title=Microsoft Announces Utilities for Advanced Web Page Development |date=1996-06-10 |website=news.microsoft.com |access-date=2021-11-20}} Quick Links toolbar, VRML.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/microsoft-releases-internet-explorer-3-0-second-beta/ |title=Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 3.0 second beta |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=17 July 1996 |access-date=28 December 2012 |first=Martin |last=Veitch}}

Microsoft announced on July 29, 1996 that it would develop a native version of IE for "Solaris and other popular variants of UNIX" to be available "by the end of 1996" which would have "equivalent functionality as that provided in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0", thus "delivering on its commitment to provide full-featured Web browser support on all major operating system platforms" as well as "supporting and promoting open standards, including HTML, ActiveX and Java".[https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/jul96/crosspltpr.mspx Best-of-Breed Browsers for Multiple Platforms] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113031109/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/jul96/crosspltpr.mspx |date=2009-01-13 }} – press release from Microsoft (July 29, 1996) In March, 1997 following a dispute which "arose between Microsoft and Bristol concerning each other's performance of the 1996 IE Agreement" and likely because of contract negotiations with Bristol to access Windows source code after September 1997 failing,[http://www.techlawjournal.com/atr/80930bri.htm Microsoft Files Opposition to Bristol's Motion for Preliminary Injunction] – article from Tech Law Journal (September 30, 1998) Microsoft reversed course and decided to directly port the Windows version in-house using the [https://web.archive.org/web/20090501040424/http://www.mainsoft.com/products/mainwin.aspx MainWin] XDE (eXtended Development Environment) application from Mainsoft,[https://web.archive.org/web/20060302164205/http://www.mainsoft.com/news/press_releases/1998_3_04_01.aspx Microsoft launches Internet Explorer on Unix] – press release from Mainsoft (March 4, 1998) the main competitor to Bristol Technology.as previously (Microsoft would later use MainWin to port Windows Media Player and Outlook Express to Unix.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060302164232/http://www.mainsoft.com/news/press_releases/2000_8_14_01.aspx Microsoft to port Internet Explorer technologies to Unix] – press release from Mainsoft (August 14, 2000)) Now well behind schedule, the 3.0 branch was apparently scrapped in favor of 4.0 (that was released for Windows half a year earlier), which used the new MSHTML (Trident) rendering engine. An Internet Explorer 4 Beta for Solaris was released by the end of 1997,[http://sunsite.uakom.sk/sunworldonline/swol-11-1997/swol-11-ie4.html Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 for Solaris] ([http://sunsite.uakom.sk/sunworldonline/swol-11-1997/images/ie-unix.gif Screenshot]) – Robert McMillan writing for SunWorld (November 5, 1997) leading to Internet Explorer for UNIX versions, which lasted until Internet Explorer 5.

Backwards compatibility was handled by allowing Users who upgraded to IE3 to still use the last IE, because the installation converted the previous version to a separate directory.

The Princeton Word Macro Virus Loophole was discovered on August 22, 1996, nine days after Internet Explorer 3's release, which could allow Webmasters to cause an end-user's computer to initiate downloads without their consent via a backdoor.{{cite web|last=Schnoll|first=Scott|title=The History of Internet Explorer|url=http://www.nwnetworks.com/iehistory.htm|publisher=Northwest Networks|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722064016/http://www.nwnetworks.com/iehistory.htm|archive-date=22 July 2011}} Microsoft patched the vulnerability the following day; however, researchers went on to find more vulnerabilities and new types of problems, such as the ability to spoof a website (similar to the later phishing problem), with these issues triggering public concern over browser security. In early 1997, Microsoft released IE 3.02 as an update to fix most of the discovered security problems.

Microsoft Authenticode became inoperable on June 30, 1997, when its trust anchor expired.{{cite web|title=Authenticode: Important Release Information|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/ms537362(v=vs.85).aspx|work=MSDN|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=21 April 2013}} After this, IE users needed to upgrade to Authenticode 2.0 which required at least IE 3.02.{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer Security Issues (1996–2002)|url=http://www.nwnetworks.com/96-02iesecurity.htm|publisher=Northwest Networks|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714214614/http://www.nwnetworks.com/96-02iesecurity.htm|archive-date=14 July 2011}} Authenticode is a code signing technology.

{{See also|Internet Explorer for Mac}}

Internet Explorer 3 for Macintosh was released on January 8, 1997 for PPC, and added support for the SSL and NTLM security protocols and the PICS and RSACi rating systems that can be used to control access to websites based on content ratings. On November 5, 1996 Microsoft announced the release of a beta version for Mac of Internet Explorer version 3.0. This release added support for HTML version 3.2, CSS,{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms531570.aspx |title=Migrating from Internet Explorer 3.0 to Internet Explorer 4.0 and Later |work=MSDN |date=16 May 2011 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=28 December 2012}} Java applets and ActiveX controls. Keith Mitchell of Macworld noted in November 1996, when discussing the IE mac version, "With the near-simultaneous release of Netscape Navigator 3.0 (415/528-2555, http://www.netscape.com) and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 (206/882-8080, http://www.microsoft.com), both companies are tripping over each other to entice Web users to their products."[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18734836.html]{{Dead link|date=December 2012}}

A problem with an operating system extension used in the Mac OS called CFM68K Runtime Enabler, led to a delay in the release of the version 3.0 for Macs based on the 68k line of processors. Four months later on May 14, Microsoft released version 3.01 which included a version for 68k-based machines. This version included features from the Windows version of Internet Explorer 4.0 such as AutoComplete and Monitoring Favorites that notified users when sites in their Favorites list have been updated. It included support for JavaScript and introduced a Download Manager and a Cookie Manager. The download manager was introduced in version 3.01;{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA37937?viewlocale=en_US|title=Archived – Mac OS 8: Internet Explorer Read Me}} version 3.0 would open the download progress bar in the main browser window, forcing the user to either cancel the download and restart it in a new window, or wait for the transfer to complete.{{cite web|url=https://www.macobserver.com/reviews/ie3.shtml|title=The Mac Observer: Internet Explorer 3.0 Review|date=22 October 2021 |quote=Another minor annoyance is Internet Explorer's use of a single window to download a file using HTTP. Netscape automatically spawns a sub-window, which allows you to continue browsing while the download commences. Explorer's default action is to perform the download using the current window, preventing further browsing during the download.}} MacUser's review noted "While Netscape Navigator 3.0 is more feature-laden and consequently bigger and slower than previous incarnations, Microsoft Internet Explorer has been refined and optimised into a Web browser that has almost as many features, but is both smaller and faster than its rival."{{cite web|url=http://www.macuser.co.uk/reviews/16100/microsoft-internet-exp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116062446/http://www.macuser.co.uk/reviews/16100/microsoft-internet-explorer-30.html |archive-date=16 January 2009 |title=Products Reviews: Internet Explorer 3 |work=MacUser |publisher=Dennis Publishing |date=16 January 2009 |access-date=28 December 2012 |first=Clive |last=Grace}}

IE3 launched with a variety of integrated apps.{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer History|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx|work=Windows History|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002010203/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx|archive-date=2 October 2003|date=30 June 2003}} The following is a list of those apps and a brief description for each.

• Internet Mail and News is an e-mail and news client included with IE3. It was replaced with Outlook Express 4.0 in IE4.
• Windows Address Book is an address book app that maintains a database of contacts that can be shared by multiple programs. It can query LDAP servers and read or write data to a local {{mono|.wab}} file.
• Microsoft Comic Chat (not to be confused with the later Microsoft Chat) is a text-based online chat app that used cartoon avatars to display text and emotion. It was updated and renamed Microsoft Chat 2.0 in IE4.{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Stephen|title=Product Reviews: Internet Explorer 4|url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/broadband/reviews/671/internet-explorer-4.html|work=PC Pro|publisher=Dennis Publishing|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050321093900/http://www.pcpro.co.uk/broadband/reviews/671/internet-explorer-4.html|archive-date=21 March 2005|date=October 1997}}
• RealPlayer is a streaming media player made by Progressive Networks (later called RealNetworks). The first version of RealPlayer was introduced in April 1995 as RealAudio Player and is one of the first media players capable of streaming media over the Internet.{{cite web|title=RealNetworks Granted Fundamental Streaming Media Patent, Enhancing Helix Licensing Program|url=http://www.realnetworks.com/company/press/releases/2006/patent_cts.html|work=2006 Press Releases|publisher=RealNetworks|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523013418/http://www.realnetworks.com/company/press/releases/2006/patent_cts.html|archive-date=23 May 2006|location=Seattle, Washington|date=24 April 2006}}

Later versions of Internet Explorer 3 included the following:

• Microsoft NetMeeting is a VoIP and multi-point videoconferencing client that uses the H.323 protocol for video and audio conferencing.
• Windows Media Player a media player that supports mainstream audio and video formats. The browser could play MIDI files on its own.

IE3 also included Microsoft Java Virtual Machine, which continued to be included until IE5.5. Because of a legal battle between Sun Microsystems (the developer of Java), Microsoft stopped offering it in 2001, although it was supported for several years after this (until the end of 2007).

Major Microsoft OS releases, switched to supporting version 4 or higher.{{cite web|url=http://www.itprotoday.com/windows-8/microsoft-delivers-internet-explorer-30a-windows-31-and-nt-351 |title=Microsoft delivers Internet Explorer 3.0a for Windows 3.1 and NT 3.51 |work=IT Pro |publisher=Penton Media |date=21 January 1997 |access-date=25 January 2018 |first=Paul |last=Thurrott}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990503203245/http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q164/4/75.asp |archive-date=May 3, 1999 |url=http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q164/4/75.asp |title=Availability of Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows 95 and NT 4.0 |date=December 18, 1998 |website=Microsoft Knowledge Base}} Internet Explorer 3 had a Beta supporting Solaris (UNIX). IE4 integration with the OS meant systems that upgraded from Internet Explorer 3 to 4.0, or came with 4.0, could not easily revert to IE3 (see Removal of Internet Explorer). The Mac OS version supported PPC and 68k Macs, superseding IE 2.1. Microsoft released various 16- and 32-bit versions for Windows.

Internet Explorer 3.03, and subsequently 3.03 Service Pack 1, were released after the launch of IE4.{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/sysreq/sysreq303sp1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000416174341/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/sysreq/sysreq303sp1.htm |archive-date=16 April 2000 |title=Internet Explorer 3.03 with Service Pack 1 System Requirements |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=28 December 2012}}

Internet Explorer 3 was the first version of the browser to support SSL 3.0.{{cite web|title=What browsers only support SSLv2? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/questions/881563/what-browsers-only-support-sslv2 |access-date=11 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123100822/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/881563/what-browsers-only-support-sslv2 |archive-date=23 November 2009 }} The last patch versions of Internet Explorer 3 supported 40-bit and 128-bit encryption, using Server Gated Cryptography (SGC).{{cite web|title=How to upgrade Internet Explorer to 128-bit encryption|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195833|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=28 December 2012}} 256-bit encryption would not become available in IE for nearly 10 years.

128-bit encryption was available or included for these versions:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.03 SP1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh

If it was not possible to upgrade to 128-bit, then 40-bit (SGC) was standard.

32-bit Internet Explorer 3 version numbers are in the form of 4.70.####, where # represents a varying digit.{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/164539 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109040735/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/164539 |archive-date=9 November 2004 |title=How to determine which version of Internet Explorer is installed |work=Help and Support |publisher=Microsoft |date=27 October 2004 |access-date=28 December 2012}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa741312.aspx Internet Explorer Architecture]
• [https://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/ Internet Explorer Community] — The official Microsoft Internet Explorer Community
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |title=Internet Explorer History |website=Microsoft |access-date=2008-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221133028/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |archive-date=2011-02-21 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
• {{Cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/delivery/channel/overview/overview.asp |title=MSDN Introduction to Active Channel Technology |access-date=2008-03-09 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011116021723/http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/delivery/channel/overview/overview.asp |archive-date=2001-11-16 |url-status=dead }}

{{S-start}}

{{S-bef|before=Internet Explorer 2}}

{{S-ttl|title=Internet Explorer 3|years=1996}}

{{S-aft|after=Internet Explorer 4}}

{{S-end}}

{{gopher clients}}

{{Internet Explorer|state=open}}

{{Early web browsers}}

{{Internet suites}}

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{{Authority control}}

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