New Web Browser Leaves No Footprints

eastbayted writes "InfoWorld reports a new web browser designed to protect users privacy is available for download. Called Browzar, it 'automatically deletes Internet caches, histories, cookies and auto-complete forms.' It also boasts a search engine, which the company will use to generate income. The 264KB application is the brainchild of Ajaz Ahmen, known for creating the U.K.'s first ISP Freeserve. The forthcoming version is for Windows only, but Mac and Linux versions will be available eventually."

Hmmm

[Lex-Man82]

I wonder if Google Toolbar works with it?

Knoppix?

[epsalon]

This reminds me of what happened to me once, when I was manning a booth at a conference trying to convince people to use Linux. We tried to get people to buy a Knoppix LiveCD from us to try it out. So, two people came and were mostly intersted in the fact that if they use the LiveCD to browse the web, none of their data is saved anywhere.

Regarding this "Browsar", does it delete all caches/cookies, or not save them at all? Because just deleting can be not secure enough unless you do it very carefully. Also, what about the swap? Is it deleted or avioded?

Browzar is based on IE?

[ncw]

It is unlikely that they developed a modern web browser from scratch.

There is no indication on their web site that it is based on anything though.

http://www.browzar.com/ [browzar.com]

I found this one message on google groups (in french) which indicates it is based on Internet Explorer.

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/fr.comp.infosyste mes.www.navigateurs/browse_frm/thread/19f96a99deb3 0fc1/76965389104729e7?lnk=st&q=browzar&rnum=2#7696 5389104729e7 [google.co.uk]

Anyone know any better?

Hmm...

[The MAZZTer]

But does it work well on a USB flash drive? From the description it seems like it might. Anyone have an idea?

Most browsers already give you options to allow you to not store most of this information already. Firefox has a key combo to (transparently, optionally) wipe out selected areas of this data. Someone mentioned an option for Safari. Opera probably has something too somewhere.

Two major limitations

[DoofusOfDeath]

1) It's closed source. So even if we assume good intentions on the authors' part, not many people have had a chance to scruitinize the code for weaknesses. The recent flap about how "wiped" mobile phones can still have their databases recovered is an example of this issue actually happening.

2) It sounds like it only keeps the local computer clean of history. Which I guess is good if you don't want your boyfriend to find out you like the whole Furbie sex scene. But when you're later divorcing him because he won't put on a chipmunk suit, and his attorney subpoenas Yahoo to get records of your search history, you're not protected. I think to be protected from THIS sort of thing the browser ought to default to using an anonymizer proxy.

Should we pursue this?

[DoofusOfDeath]

I realize there are sometimes good reasons to support anonymous browsing, like for whistleblowers, etc. But I wonder if the costs outweigh the benefits?

I keep on seeing these stats about huge numbers of married guys who feel addicted to porn. That is, they know it's causing them relationship problems, but they feel they can't stop. And hiding their browsing history is a major modus operandi for them to continue their behavior.

Yes, I realize there's a possibility that these guys would find some other venue even if they didn't have browsers that hide history. And yes, we certainly have a RIGHT to not be denied tools just because some people can't handle them. (E.g. alcohol, gambling, WoW.) I'm not asking whether or not we have a right to build such tools - I'm asking whether or not building such tools is the most excellent way to conduct ourselves.

A simple front end for IE

[dreemernj]

It just a simple front end for IE. There are already plug ins to do this in Windows with other browsers and at least then you wouldn't be browsing with IE so the pages would look nicer. This seems like a bit of a waste/ploy/piece of junk.

Re:Safari has similar capabilitites

[creepynut]

Yes, but what does Firefox do if it crashes, or you need to close it quickly?

Not to mention, do this and you lose ALL your browsing history. What if you want to keep some of it?

It's based on IE!!!

[TristanGrimaux]

It uses the engine of IE to render pages, that's why it's so small. This kind of project would take a good programmer a week or so. This buddy knows how to get good press for nothing. No footprint? All right, but this guy does not talk about security in his site. Linux? Mac? Sure! if enough people insists and he's got enough money he will think about it! Sure Send email!

Crap!

Re:Safari has similar capabilitites

[Anonymous Coward]

I personally would want to use a separate browser. If you take your machine down to IT and there's no browsing history on it if they fire your browser up, it sets alarm bells ringing. Either

a) There was something in there that the user didn't want you to stumble upon accidentally
b) The user is a little bit paranoid, and should be handled delicately

At least if you use a separate browser, they'd fire your normal browser up and see the usual history (corporate intranet, work related stuff, bit of casual surfing) which fits the normal pattern and doesn't hold their attention. They may never discover your secret browser, and any associated history (or lack of).

I work in IT for a UK university, and due to the large number of people we have working/studying here, it's a problem we come across every so often. Mostly it's scenario A, and after a little bit of digging, it turns out that they were up to all sorts of naughtiness after being let loose on a 100mbit connection.

Re:Browzar is based on IE?

[R2P2]

Claiming eventual Linux support is just an easy way to increase the chances of an application getting a /. post.

Re:Best idea I've heard all decade

[stinky wizzleteats]

Set up a pr0n user on your laptop, then encrypt the entire user directory. Not a perfect solution - you still have swap and tmp to worry about, but it's better than trying to keep your history clean.

Oh, and if you surf for porn using the company's connection, you're a moron.

What? You aren't running Linux? You can't encrypt files without the admin having the master decryption key? Sucks to be you.

Using Tor in a virtual machine

[Lknight]

And for anyone who wants to try a preconfigured Tor-based Firefox VMware appliance (making your surfing not only anonymous, but segmented from the host machine) you can find a torrent at http://www.mininova.org/tor/408257 [mininova.org].

Re:Best idea I've heard all decade

[kdemetter]

Torpark will do the same , it even encrypts your data .

I don't know if it works trough the company firewall though .

Re:Best idea I've heard all decade

[4solarisinfo]

You aren't running Linux? You can't encrypt files without the admin having the master decryption key? Sucks to be you.
Well, yes I'm running windows, it's a corporate machine and it is cheaper/easier for them to control us all that way. But yes, I do have PGP encryption to all my files so only I have access to them. Thanks for your concern, but if you know what you're doing, you can fix/tweak a lot of windows issues too.

Re:Safari has similar capabilitites

[dhasenan]

For the former: restart it (make your homepage about:blank for safety) and ctrl-shift-del.

For the latter: Firefox has profiles; use them.

"NO" footprint(s)

[raalynthslair]

I wonder if they keep the browser from advertising things like the software and OS used to surf the hosting servers and/or IP/MAC address of the packets... Does it do an anon. proxy thing? There are much more subtle footprints than cache and history - those are only the "desktop end" of the footprint and are by far the "least important" in terms of following the tracks of someone from the admin/investigative end. Of course, it must be nice for parents to know that their kids can download this tiny app and stash it somewhere where Mom and Dad will never find it and surf all the porn they want when they're not home and there's next to no way (aside from keyloggers and/or "filter" software) to know where they went and what they did...