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IE 8 to include private browsing feature
As CNET News first reported last week, Internet Explorer 8 will include a way to surf somewhat anonymously, allowing the user to suspend browsing history, cookies, and other identifying information. Mozilla had considered such a feature for its Firefox 3 release, but dropped it for technical reasons. Apple Safari also includes a similar feature.
Known as InPrivate, Microsoft is touting the feature as one of several security enhancements within its next major browser release. The scenarios for using InPrivate include when you're using someone else's computer, when you need to buy a gift for a loved one without ruining the surprise, or when you're at an Internet kiosk and don't want the next person to know which Web site you visited. While you can currently clear the browser cache with a mouse click, it's an all-or-nothing action. InPrivate temporarily suspends the automatic caching functions, allowing you to keep the rest of your browsing history intact.
ZDNet columnist Mary Jo Foley calls InPrivate IE's "porn mode."
The IE development team at Microsoft has more details about InPrivate here. They've even produced a video.
InPrivate will be available in IE8 Beta 2, which is expected to be released sometime before the end of the month. Final release for the browser remains scheduled for November.
As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments. 
Surprised there is not an extension to do this.
and i'm sure FF has an extension for that...
I've deved for IE8 beta though, and its not much better from previous versions in that its just modifying the rendering engine from one non standard-compliant one to another slightly more compliant one.
This is going to meant that we'll see many versions of IE slowly approaching compliance, but all still being different. What fun!
Also haven't MS claimed 'full' compliance for IE8+. I'm running the beta now, no major complaints yet about its rendering.
1) Safari for WINDOWS only arrived this year, making it less than a year that any windows user had such a feature.
2) Mozilla (the quick to be up-to-date one) is going to be behind Microsoft in offering the feature, which as you correctly said, is behind Apple.
The should call it "InPrivateExceptWeWillStillKnowBecauseOfAllTheBackdoorsWePutInIt"
I'd be much happier with a faster, smaller footprint, standards-compliant version of IE.
- by November 21, 2008 7:15 AM PST
- Browsing with anonymity? Yea right! I wonder if they'll (microsoft) finally be getting rid of that hidden DAT file that records everything you browse to. Microsoft has had that dat file in place since IEs beginning and it records every URL you visit as well as all items the browser downloads. This file is purposely 'hidden' and cannot be deleted. If someone ever cleared out all their cache and history and files, you could always use a program that reads the DAT file to see everywhere they've been. Unless microsoft has decided not to continue down this path, then all this new anonymity crap they're shoveling is just that, crap.
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