March 2, 2010 – In Kenya, many people rely on public places like Internet Cafes, Libraries and schools to access the Internet, check e-mail and even do a little shopping or banking.

“While this is a great way to ensure that you can access the Internet without having a computer in your house,” says Emmanuel Birech, Developer & Platform Manager “it does open you up to a security minefield that you need to be aware of, particularly if you’re using a computer that hundreds of other people also have access to.”

Unfortunately, the way the Internet works is that it leaves little “signs” and “trails” all over the World Wide Web when you surf websites and log into your secure accounts (like Facebook, online shopping sites or even your online bank account).

Some of this information is stored on the computer and can be accessed by someone who has a relatively good understanding of computers and where to find these little “cookie crumbs”.

“So, if you’re not careful about cleaning off all the traces that you left behind on a public computer, it’s possible that someone else could have access to your most personal information like credit card numbers, bank account details or passwords,” Birech points out.

Internet Explorer 8, which was recently released, is the latest version of Microsoft’s popular Internet browsing software and has been designed specifically for making you more secure.

“A feature called InPrivate, gives you the ability to surf the Internet in virtual anonymity, preventing the computer from permanently recording your browsing history, and storing temporary Internet files and little tracking files called cookies,” says Agosta Liko, CEO of Verviant Consulting, an ICT company in Nairobi.

“InPrivate is also a lot more powerful, giving users the ability to filter content coming from third parties, which may give them information about your surfing habits,” he adds.

Users have full control over what can and can’t track their activities so it gives you peace of mind that you know exactly what is happening with your personal information.

“Internet Explorer 8 has a host of other security technologies that will also ensure that your personal surfing habits and identity information are secure – especially in places where lots of people share public computers,” Birech says.

The launch of this browse engine comes at a time when Microsoft is introducing internet security mechanism to ensure safety on the net especially for Children.

“Given the high value that information can represent these days, the supplier of information security and net security systems takes on great responsibility.

As a partner, he must enjoy the user’s trust”, says Roger Halbheer, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Internet Explorer 8 is included in the latest version of Windows 7 and is also available for free download from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/.