Friday, 22 August 2008

Privacy Remains Microsoft’s Main Concern for Internet Explorer 8

Based on two recent trademark applications, Microsoft is planning a privacy mode for the next version of Internet Explorer (IE 8)...

Based on two recent trademark applications, Microsoft is planning a privacy mode for the next version of Internet Explorer (IE 8).

In a meeting with reporters this week, Satya Nadella, senior vice president of Microsoft's search, portal and advertising platform group, said the company's browser would come with a private browsing mode.

The Internet Explorer team has filed for two patents related to the technology called Cleartracks and Inprivate. Cleartracks involves computer programs for deleting search history after accessing Web sites. Whereas, Inprivate involves computer programs for disabling the history and file caching features of a web browser as well as a computer software for notifying a user when others are tracking Web use and for controlling the information others can access about such use.

Microsoft, in a June blog posting , said privacy is one of the major components of the trustworthy browsing element of Internet Explorer 8. "The larger challenge here is notifying users clearly about what sites they're disclosing information to and enabling them to control that disclosure if they choose," the company said. Microsoft said privacy means "the user is in control of what information the browser makes available to Web sites."

Microsoft would only say that it is considering a number of privacy features for the browser and would give more details out closer to release, which is expected some time towards the end of the year.

Similar options for erasing browsing history have been featured on other browsers, notably Apple's Safari browser, which has a privacy mode. And a secure browser, called xB Browser automatically clears surfing history and deletes cookies when the browser closes. Developers working on Mozilla's Firefox are apparently designing similar features for future versions (the recent release of Firefox 3 had none).