This is, as always, a work in progress but is reasonably comprehensive as far as I currently know. I've included browser versions that I and others deem most significant and most useful; this generally means there are significant advantages to sticking with the version listed and not upgrading to the next version in certain situations. If, for some reason, you need a version of a browser that is not listed here or if any of these links are broken, I recommend you check out Gamba's "Where to Download Browsers" page. Alternate download links for most IE versions can be found here, and some alternate links for older Netscape versions are here.
| Browser | Version | Support for: | Minimum CPU | Minimum Mac OS |
RAM/HD (MB) |
Notes: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-Ins | JavaScript | Java | Encryption | ||||||
| Netscape | 2.02 | Y | Y | N | 40-bit (1) | 68020 | 7.0• | 4/2.5 | 10, Taming NN2 |
| 3.04 | Y | Y | Y | 128-bit (1) | 68020 | 7.0• | 9/5 | 10 | |
| 4.08 | Y | Y | Y | 128-bit | 68020 | 7.1 (2) | 8/8 | ||
| Internet Explorer |
2.1 | Y | Y | N | 40-bit (1) | 68030 | 7.1 | 4/2.5 | |
| 3.01 | Y | Y | Y (7) | 40-bit (1) | 68030 | 7.1 | 4/8 | ||
| 4.01 | Y | Y | Y | 128-bit (1, 8) | 68030 | 7.1 | 4/22 | 10 | |
| MacWeb | 1.00A3.2 | N | N | N | none | 68000 | 7.0• | 2/1 | |
| 1.1.1E | N | N | N | none | 68000 | 7.0• | 2/1.5 | ||
| 2.0 | N | N | N | none | 68000 | 7.0• | 2/1.2 | ||
| MacLynx | 2.7b1 | N | N | N | none | 68030 | 7.0• | 2/2 | |
| CyberDog | 2.0 | Y (3) | N | Y (4) | 40-bit | 68030 | 7.1 | 8/14 | 5 |
| iCab | 2.9 | Y | Y | Y | 128-bit | 68020 | 7.0• (6) | 5/5 | |
| MacWWW | 1.0.3 | N | N | N | none | 68000 | 6.0.8 | 1.5/0.5 | 9 |
(1): Browser security certificates have expired; these browsers are now useless for secure browsing. (See also Note 10.)
(2): Ignore installation warnings but make sure you have the CFM-68K Runtime Enabler 4.0, ObjectSupportLib 1.2 (included with CFM-68K download), Drag Manager 1.1 (included in 7.5.x and up), and Thread Manager (included in 7.5.x and up) extensions installed.
(3): Requires Internet Plugin Viewer.
(4): Requires Apple's Macintosh Runtime for Java 2.0.
(5): Requires OpenDoc.
(6): Requires Drag Manager 1.1 and Thread Manager extensions for pre-System 7.5 installations. See iCab site for more details.
(7): Requires separate installer for Java
(8): Requires separate installer for 128-bit encryption.
(9): Will not access FTP sites or .shtml pages. Only usable for .htm(l) and .txt viewing.
(10): If you are comfortable doing some modifications, the following directions from a now-dead page on Thawte.com explain how to update the security certificates for Y2K compliance:
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People running 3.x generation browsers can upgrade their security to the same level as that supported by 4.0 generation browsers. The process takes about 2 minutes and ensures that your browser works with the tens of thousands of Thawte certified secure servers out there, well into the next century. You only need to do this once for your browser to be updated permanently. If you have already done so, then you can ignore this page!
Netscape Navigator 3.x
With Netscape Navigator 3.x you must first delete the old root and then install the new one. To do so, follow these quick steps:
1. Choose Options, Security Preferences.
2. Select the "Certificate Authorities" tab.
3. Find the entry marked "Thawte Server CA". Delete that certificate.
4. Close that dialog box.
5. Now point your browser at http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crt and accept the new root certificate. You will be asked for a nickname, use "Thawte Server CA". This certificate is identical to the last one, except that it is valid till 2020 and is the same as the certificate in Communicator 4.x.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x
Even though the versions of IE 3.x that ship with the Thawte root (should be IE 3.01 and IE 3.02) use the old root, they are _not_ affected by the expiration in July, because that browser does not check root expiration dates, only cert expiration dates. If you see an error message when you try to connect to a Thawte secure site with IE 3.x, it can probably be fixed by following the steps below. This only works on IE 3.x on Windows95 or NT 4.0.
1. Point your browser at http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crt
2. Choose "Open File" if you are asked, then "Accept and Enable", "OK". 3. Now restart IE. You should now have a "Thawte Server CA" entry that is valid till 2020.
If you have the old root and want to roll it over for completeness you can do that too by following these steps.
1. Choose View, Options, Security, Sites.
2. Look for the entry called "Thawte Server CA". It may or may not be there, depending on your precise browser version and upgrade history. If it is there, click on it, then click on "Delete". Else, continue at 3.
3. Click on OK.
4. Now point your browser at http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crt
5. Choose "Open File" if you are asked, then "Accept and Enable", "OK". 6. Now restart IE. You should now have a "Thawte Server CA" entry that is valid till 2020.
Mac IE 4.x
The version of IE 4.x for the Macintosh (no other platform) ships with both the old and the new roots. To get it to work, you need to delete the old root. In your security preferences, find the Thawte Server CA roots that expired in 1998 (there should be two of them). Delete them. If you are asked for a password, leave it blank. Do NOT delete the newer roots which expire in 2020. You will now be able to connect cleanly.
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