Internet Explorer "InPrivate Browsing" confusion

There seems to some confusion about how private is Internet Explorer 8’s ‘InPrivate Browsing’.

IE’s InPrivate Browsing (Click Tools > InPrivate Browsing) enables you to surf the Web without providing nosey Ned and Sara snoop an opportunity to discover where you visited or what you looked at should they gain access to your computer.

However, it does not:
* Prevent someone on your network or a hacker from seeing where you went.
* Necessarily provide anonymity on the Internet as Web sites have the ability to identify you via your Web address, anything you do on the site, and information you enter on the site.
* Remove favorites and\or feeds you add during an InPrivate browsing session.
* Make changes to Internet Explorer settings e.g., adding a new home page.

When you start InPrivate Browsing, Internet Explorer opens a new browser window. The protection InPrivate Browsing provides is only in effect during the time you use that window. You can open as many tabs as you want in that window and they’ll all be protected. However if you open another browser window, that window will not be protected by InPrivate Browsing.

Note: To end your InPrivate Browsing session, simply close the InPrivate Browser window.

During an InPrivate Browse IE stores some information e.g., cookies and temporary Internet files. The reason is to insure the Web pages you visit will work correctly. However at the end of your InPrivate Browsing session, this information is discarded.

The following table describes what information InPrivate Browsing discards when you close the browser and how it is affected during your browsing session:
* Cookies. Kept in memory so pages work correctly, but cleared when you close the browser.
* Temporary Internet Files. Stored on disk so pages work correctly, but deleted when you close the browser.
* Web page history. This information is not stored.
* Form data and passwords. This information is not stored.
* Anti-phishing cache. Temporary information is encrypted and stored so pages work correctly.
* Address bar and search AutoComplete. This information is not stored.
* Automatic Crash Restore (ACR). ACR can restore when a tab crashes in a session, but if the whole window crashes all data is deleted and the window cannot be restored.
* Document Object Model (DOM) storage. The DOM storage is a kind of “super cookie” Web developers use to retain information. They’re not kept after the window is closed.

If you need Web browsing anonymity beyond what InPrivate Browsing provides, you’ll need a 3rd party program.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.