Quero Toolbar for Internet Explorer is intended to be used as a replacement for IE's address bar. This is in direct contrast to the majority of toolbars currently available as they tend to take up valuable browser real estate. The search feature includes dozens of built-in sites across several predefined profiles, ranging from the usual suspects such as Google to sites such as MSN Money. Pop-up and ad blocking is taken to the next level, allowing you to not only block standard pop-ups but to stifle even some Google ads from appearing. Most importantly, it can protect you from certain types of phishing attacks.
- Quero Toolbar saves room in your browser window by taking the place of IE's address bar.
- Allows you to easily search several popular sites and search engines from various countries.
- The toolbar helps you to avoid some types of phishing attacks.
- Quero lets you block several pop-up and advertisement types that many other toolbars do not address.
- This toolbar plug-in includes several new keyboard shortcuts.
- Quero Toolbar is not available for any browsers other than Internet Explorer for Windows.
- You cannot customize the toolbar's existing search profiles.
- Search profiles are limited to Standard (United States), Science, and eight other countries.
- Quero Toolbar can be used in place of Internet Explorer's address bar.
- Several search profiles are included in the toolbar, allowing you to search a large variety of sites and engines.
- Integrated phishing protection works by highlighting suspicious characters in a site's host name.
- Powerful pop-up and ad blocking lets you prevent several ad types from appearing including Google, Flash, IntelliTXT & more.
- Enables you to quickly clear your browsing history from within the toolbar itself.
- Quero Toolbar includes several convenient browser shortcuts.
- Internationalized Domain Name feature gives you the ability to access web addresses in your own language.
- Quero provides the ability to resize your browser window to one of several predefined sizes directly from its main menu.
There are many "cookie-cutter" browser toolbars available, most of them including features such as pop-up blocking and enhanced searching. This is not a bad thing, as most of you are seeking a toolbar that offers these standard items and not much more. Each of these toolbars has its own look and feel as well as some unique features that may differentiate it from the others but, for the most part, they are very similar. Quero Toolbar falls into this category, as it really doesn't add that much in the way of functionality to the plug-in landscape.
However, Quero separates itself from the pack in how it handles standard toolbar functionality. By allowing you to enter both web site addresses (URLs) as well as search keywords in the same box, Quero provides a very polished interface. The search profiles, Standard (US) being the default, contain a solid selection of sites and search engines. Unfortunately, you cannot customize these profiles by adding your own sites but I think you will find that in most cases everything you need is already in there.
In regards to the ad and pop-up blocking, the customization options here are very thorough allowing you to be specific when choosing which advertisements you would like to suppress. Personally, having plug-ins that do not encroach on my browser window's space is important. If you feel the same way, Quero Toolbar can fit seamlessly into the spot where your Internet Explorer address bar currently resides. Also, with phishing becoming more prevalent any edge that can be gained against an attack is a plus and this toolbar offers you some protection in that area.
If you use IE for Windows, this plug-in is worth taking a shot on as it can be easily uninstalled if you find you are not satisfied. Unfortunately, there appear to be no plans for a Firefox or Macintosh version any time soon.
