Internet Changes Everything

Net browser promises secure surf

BBC NEWS | Technology | Net browser promises secure surf

A web browser has been released that promises total privacy for its users.

Browzar, as it is known, automatically deletes all traces of the pages a person has visited, and the terms that they have searched for on the web.

Most web browsers, including Microsoft's Internet Explorer, allow users to do this manually.

The developers of the browser say that it will be useful for people who want to protect their privacy on work PCs or when using shared PCs in net cafes.

Unwritten history

Browzar is similar to Internet Explorer but has had much of its software code rewritten.

It works by automatically deleting all private information about your surfing habits

Unlike other browsers it does not record the web address for any website you visit. So next time you logon, the names of sites such as http://news.bbc.co.uk are not stored in the drop-down address bar at the top of the browser.

This also means that there is no web history folder on a user's hard drive, that records visited sites.

So called cached webpages are also not stored. Normally these webpages are kept on a computer's hardrive to speed up the download times of frequently visited websites.

Computer users crowd round a screen
The browser prevents other people looking at private information

Using a cached page means a computer only has to download those elements of a site that has changed.

The browser also deletes "cookies" at the end of each browsing session.

A cookie is a small program that sits on your computer and identifies you to the website.

Cookies may hold personal preferences about the site and details of how you reached the page.

The browser also does not use an auto-complete function, that works like predictive text on a mobile phone, and can give away terms previously used on search engines.

Currently, web users can delete all of these files manually, but it is often fiddly and would need to be done after every browsing session.

Stiff competition

Browzar is entering a market dominated by Internet Explorer.

Earlier this year, web analysis firm One Stat released figures that showed it had an 83.5% market share. In 2004, that share stood at 95%.

Rival browsers such as Firefox and Opera have been gaining significant inroads into the browser market.

But the developers of Browzar do not see their product as a rival. Instead they say their software is a complement to existing applications and is "designed to be run at those times when we want privacy."

At present the free download is available for PCs running the Microsoft Window's operating system. It is currently offered as a "beta", or test version.

New versions for Apple Macs and Linux machines are expected soon.

September 1, 2006 at 09:31 AM in Browsers | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home