Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method of enhanced browsing involves a first web page displayed by a browser in a first browser window. The first web page has a target link to a second web page. A computer system automatically prefetches content from the second web page. The method causes display in the first browser window of a first indicator proximate to and associated with the target link and prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link. The first indicator visually conveys in real-time an initiation of the prefetching of content from the second web page. In response to completion of the prefetching, the method causes display in the first browser window of a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching.

Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first, web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the, second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache on the client computing device before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache on the client computing device before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache on the client computing device before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method securely scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to a second web page from one or more links contained within a first web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads the prefetched content from the second web page into a safe cache on the client computing device before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, wherein the safe cache is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache. In response to identifying a security threat within the prefetched content, the method displays a warning to the user.

Abstract: A method scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to the second web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads it into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content for a security threat, within the safe cache, which is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory or storage location external to the safe cache. The method detects user placement of a cursor proximate to the target link and, in response to identifying a security threat, presents a warning to the user, or in response to identifying no threat or the user opting to ignore the warning, causing display of a second window comprising the prefetched content.

Abstract: A method scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser. The method identifies a target link to the second web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads it into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link. The method scans the prefetched content for a security threat, within the safe cache, which is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory or storage location external to the safe cache. The method detects user placement of a cursor proximate to the target link and, in response to identifying a security threat, presents a warning to the user, or in response to identifying no threat or the user opting to ignore the warning, causing display of a second window comprising the prefetched content.

Abstract: A method scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser in a browser window. The method identifies, in the first web page, a target link to the second web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads it into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link and before the content of the second web page is opened by an application configured to provide access to the content of the second web page. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, which is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache.

Abstract: A method scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser in a browser window. The method identifies, in the first web page, a target link to the second web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads it into a safe cache according to a prefetching order before receiving the user selection of the target link and before the content of the second web page is opened by an application configured to provide access to the content of the second web page. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, which is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache.

Abstract: A method scans a second web page linked to a first web page being displayed by a browser in a browser window. The method identifies, in the first web page, a target link to the second web page. Prior to receiving a user selection of the target link, the method prefetches content from the second web page and loads it into a safe cache before receiving the user selection of the target link and before the content of the second web page is opened by an application configured to provide access to the content of the second web page. The method scans the prefetched content from the second web page for a security threat, within the safe cache, which is configured to prevent the prefetched content from altering a memory location or storage location external to the safe cache.

Abstract: A method of enhanced browsing involves a first web page displayed by a browser in a first browser window. The first web page has a target link to a second web page. A computer system automatically prefetches content from the second web page. The method causes display in the first browser window of a first indicator proximate to and associated with the target link and prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link. The first indicator visually conveys in real-time an initiation of the prefetching of content from the second web page. In response to completion of the prefetching, the method causes display in the first browser window of a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing. The apparatus includes a user interface for presenting an enhanced browsing window of content identified by a link in a page displayed by a browser. The apparatus may include a prefetcher for fetching or prefetching the content and a cache for storing the window. The apparatus may also include an ad interface for retrieving advertisements for display with the content. When a first page is displayed in the browser, content identified by a link to a second page is automatically fetched and an enhanced browsing window, which may initially be invisible, is built. When a user mouses-over a status indicator associated with the link, the window is automatically displayed and the user can navigate the displayed content. The status indicator may change appearance to indicate a status of the prefetching (e.g., initiated, completed, success, failure, communication error).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing with security scanning. Within a document (e.g., a web page, a word processing document, a list of electronic mail messages), a link to other content or another document is selected by a computing device and the content is identified before a user clicks on the link to open the content. The content is placed into a safe cache that prevents the content from adversely affecting the user's computing device. The content is scanned and/or its behavior is analyzed to detect any security threats or undesirable content (e.g., viruses, worms, scripts, adware, spyware, pornography). Results of the analysis may be collected at a central server. The link or an associated indicator may be configured to indicate whether a threat is present; more information may be provided as desired. A user may be provided with various options to ignore a threat, disable the link, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing with security scanning. Within a document (e.g., a web page, a word processing document, a list of electronic mail messages), a link to other content or another document is selected by a computing device and the content is identified before a user clicks on the link to open the content. The content is placed into a safe cache that prevents the content from adversely affecting the user's computing device. The content is scanned and/or its behavior is analyzed to detect any security threats or undesirable content (e.g., viruses, worms, scripts, adware, spyware, pornography). Results of the analysis may be collected at a central server. The link or an associated indicator may be configured to indicate whether a threat is present; more information may be provided as desired. A user may be provided with various options to ignore a threat, disable the link, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for look-ahead security. Within a document (e.g., a web page, a word processing document, a list of electronic mail messages), a link to other content or another document is selected and the content is identified before a user clicks on the link to open the content. The content is placed into a safe cache that prevents the content from adversely affecting the user's computing device. The content is scanned and/or its behavior is analyzed to detect any security threats or undesirable content (e.g., viruses, worms, scripts, adware, spyware, pornography). Results of the analysis may be collected at a central server. The link or an associated indicator may be configured to indicate whether a threat is present; more information may be provided as desired. A user may be provided with various options to ignore a threat, disable the link, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing of electronic data (e.g., web pages, documents, electronic mail). When a first page is displayed in a browser, content identified by links to other pages is prefetched. If the page contains a list of links (e.g., search results), an enhanced browsing stripe is superimposed on the links. The stripe is transparent or semi-transparent, so that a user can identify individual links in the list. As long as a user interface cursor remains within the stripe, whenever the cursor is placed over or adjacent to a link, an enhanced browsing window containing the prefetched content for that link is displayed. The stripe extends at least the length of the list of links. If the cursor reaches the end of the browser window, the browser page is automatically scrolled as necessary to view additional links or page content, and the stripe is extended accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing. The apparatus includes a user interface for presenting an enhanced browsing window containing a second page of content identified by a link in a first page displayed in a browser. The apparatus may include a prefetcher for prefetching the content, a cache for storing the window, and a customizer for customizing the window or content displayed in the window. When a user places a cursor near or over the link (e.g., over an icon placed near the link), the window is automatically displayed with content from the second page. One or more objects (e.g., ads, navigation controls) may be stripped from the second page before displaying remaining content in the window. The window may be converted into a full second browser in response to predetermined user activity within the window (e.g., clicking a control, entering data into a data entry field).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for look-ahead security. Within a document (e.g., a web page, a word processing document, a list of electronic mail messages), a link to other content or another document is selected and the content is identified before a user clicks on the link to open the content. The content is placed into a safe cache that prevents the content from adversely affecting the user's computing device. The content is scanned and/or its behavior is analyzed to detect any security threats or undesirable content (e.g., viruses, worms, scripts, adware, spyware, pornography). Results of the analysis may be collected at a central server. The link or an associated indicator may be configured to indicate whether a threat is present; more information may be provided as desired. A user may be provided with various options to ignore a threat, disable the link, etc.