James Derk -- CyberDad

Stealth Surfing?

In these days of privacy invasions and shared computing has the time come for us to take our Internet browsing with us?

The “Stealth Surfer II” is a tiny USB device that aims to do just that. You plug it in to any Windows-based computer, log in to it using your password and launch its specially configured version of Mozilla’s Firefox browser.

From then on you are browsing the Web anonymously and, this is the key, when you get up from the keyboard you are taking your browsing habits with you. (As some of you know, after you are done browsing the Web, you leave behind cookies, pictures, ads, Web files and other traces of where you’ve been on the Web on the hard drive of the computer you were using.) The previous solution was to use a utility, such as the excellent, free Crap Cleaner (www.ccleaner.com) religiously to keep your hard drive clean.

On the tiny Stealth Surfer USB key comes not only Firefox, but Thunderbird (an e-mail application) and RoboForm (for password management.). There’s also Anonymizer, which helps mask your IP address and other information about you as you browse.

I found the software and hardware very easy to use and install. Basically you plug it in, log in to the device and doubleclick the one you want to use. When you are done, you yank out the device (remembering to stop it in the Windows taskbar if your system is set up to require it.)

There are a couple of issues that I see. One is price; this is not a cheap device so be sure it’s for you. Secondly, it needs a key chain hole. It comes with a pocket clip, which is not the way to go. Third is size…it is almost too small and without a proper hole, it may get misplaced easily.

The benefits outweigh these somewhat petty annoyances if you need the tools that are onboard. I found the device simple to use and the word on the street is the support is excellent when needed.

You can see the item in action and even get a free trial if you wish. The 128MB version I tested costs $99; other versions go up to 1GB of storage.

For road warriors, corporate surfers and others, it’s a great idea.

For info head to www.stealthsurfer.biz

WEEKLY WEB WONDER: By the time you read this, Microsoft should have launched its new search tool with a mapping function built in as well. See it (traffic may be high at first) at http://virtualearth.msn.com.

James Derk is co-owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm, and computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His email address is jim@cyberdads.com

posted by James Derk @ 12:59 PM