Netscape launched the latest version of its browser Thursday, promising to bring back the once-proud browser to prominence. Netscape 8.0, based on Mozilla’s Firefox browser, switches between the rendering engines used by the Firefox and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) browsers, Netscape officials said.The browser also automatically adjusts safety and security settings to help protect users as they explore the Web. A simply-designed interface is intended to allow to find and use features like tabbed browsing, integrated RSS feeds, enhanced privacy settings, groups of favorite “home tabs,” multiple Web mail ac-counts, form fill and password managers, news and weather updates, and up to 10 customizable toolbars. “Netscape 8.0 is designed for the millions of online users who are searching for a safer and better browser,” said Netscape General Manager Jeremy Liew in a statement. “Netscape 8.0 combines the best of all worlds by automatically adjusting browser and security settings based on which sites are likely to be safe and which might be dangerous. By warning users before they visit many poten-tially dangerous sites, Netscape 8.0 adds an extra layer of protection to a user’s computer. Netscape 8.0 also brings cutting-edge functionality right to the surface to make exploring the Web safer, easier, faster, and more entertaining.” For security, Netscape 8.0’s browser automatically checks to see if the site is on a constantly-updated “black list” of thousands of suspected virus, scam, or spyware sites or a “white list” of more than 150,000 Web sites that have been certified as legitimate by VeriSign and TRUSTe.If the site appears on either list, the browser automatically adjusts its security settings and rendering engine to help protect the user from unsafe sites while offering full functionality on known and trusted sites. The browser also blocks access to suspected dangerous sites with a warning screen and disables potentially dangerous functionality on those sites. The browser also includes customized sets of multiple home pages, access to multiple Web mail accounts from the browser, integrated search from a choice of providers, including AOL, AskJeeves, Google, and Netscape, and RSS notification to add popular feeds to the browser with just a couple clicks. Version 8.0 can be downloaded for free at browser.netscape.com. More detailed product information about Netscape 8.0 and the new Netscape.com portal, including downloadable screen shots and detailed descriptions, can be found at www.aolepk.com/netscapebrowser. Purchased by AOL in 1999, Netscape declined from its industry-leading status as it was eclipsed by Microsoft and, recently, by Mozilla’s Firefox. While IE retains more than a 90 percent share of the browser market, Firefox has shown strong gains in recent months. Technology Industry