While everyone seems to be buzzing about Microsoft Internet Explorer 8's new InPrivate™ Browsing feature as a way to watch porn at work and not get caught, the fact of the matter is that most people should, and now can, limit the information about themselves available on the Internet.

According to the Windows Internet Explorer Weblog, by the program's designers and implementers, " ...many users are concerned about so-called 'over-the-shoulder privacy,' or the ability to control what their spouses, friends, kids, and co-workers might see."

While one logical conclusion would be that what's being hidden is pornography, since no one wants their kid (or significant other) to know that's what Dad or Mom is watching on the computer, concealing one's visits to other Internet locations are just as important and might be lifesaving.

For example, one might be conducting banking business from the in-laws' computer while on a visit, and not want them to know where one banks. Perhaps you've just scored a collectible for your honey's birthday from ionlysellsteelerslogoproducts.com, or made online reservations at a special restaurant, and just having that pop up in your history will ruin a surprise.

Or what if you were in an abusive situation and wanted to find support online, maybe even a shelter in which to hide? Would you really want to give away your search for help if the abuser could access your browser history? The old way to protect oneself was to manually go through and delete all cookies, cache, etc.

With the new IE8, offered in beta mode as of August 27, opening a special browser window with the InPrivate tech will keep everything visited during that session separate from your regular browser history; once it's closed, passwords, queries, Net addresses, all your information is gone.

(NOTE: while this feature goes a long way to preventing the discovery of computer data, it is NOT infallible. Victims of domestic violence are advised to use public computers such as those at libraries and keep their own data safe to avoid harassment and location by abusers.)

For the average user, however, the system works well. Once the information is eliminated from the temporary internet storage site, the next time the browser is opened for email or other update, that location on the hard drive is written over several times. People trained in computer forensics or those with expensive tracking tools might be able to retrieve this data, but for the average husband wondering if he'll get his desired jammy wooly socks for Christmas?  Not likely.

There's also a lot of discussion going on about how the feature limits the amount of information commercial entitles gather because of the individual's Web habits.

The bad news for those drooling and ready to jump into takeyourclothesoff.com is, of course, that like other Microsoft IE programs,  Information Tech administrators can configure and control features via Group Policy. Each person's usage can be designed and restricted when they're issued a username and password to prevent access.

This goes for home computers and parents who monitor that usage as well.  So yes, boys and girls, while mom is picking up your dirty socks off the floor, she may still be checking your voicemail and your Web itinerary. Some privacy rules are just not meant to be broken.