The leading provider of in-depth and unbiased reviews of privacy and anonymous web browsing software, PrivacySoftware.biz, announced its top recommended privacy programs for 2008. The history and evidence eraser software category was the first category reviewed by the editors of PrivacySoftware.biz.

Computer programs that offer the following functions were covered in this category:

    * The ability to locate and permanently erase Internet search history and web browsing history from all major web browsers including Netscape, Firefox, Internet Explorer, AOL, Opera and others.
    * The ability to scan and erase files associated with instant messaging software such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ Messenger, Skype and others.
    * The ability to find and remove temporary files from Microsoft Office products such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook and others.
    * The ability to search and erase multimedia files such as DivX video files, Windows Media Files, Real Player files, QuickTime files and others.
    * The ability to permanently remove files associated with file sharing services.
    * The ability to permanently remove unwanted emails from email clients such as Thunderbird, Outlook Express, Eudora and others.
    * The ability to locate and erase other temporary or permanent files including Adobe Acrobat files, Macromedia Flash files and more.

The top recommended software for this category is ParetoLogic Privacy Controls. Other software that received consideration included the CyberScrub Privacy Suite and the Webroot Windows Washer.

Keith said: "Most people these days share their computer access with family, roommates or coworkers". "This leaves them vulnerable to someone else snooping in on their web browser history and learning things they may wish to keep private. Software like Privacy Controls permanently remove these files and histories so that what you do online remains your business, not someone else's."

The anonymous Web surfing category was the other software category reviewed by the PrivacySoftware.biz editorial team.

This category covered software with the following features:

    * The ability to protect your IP address from online snoops and keep them from tracking your browsing history and purchasing patterns.
    * Enhancement features to existing firewall and antivirus programs, which provide added protection against cyber criminals who attempt to detect personal information through schemes such as phishing and pharming.
    * The ability to safely and securely surf a website without the website being able to track back to your computer.
    * The ability to frequently change IP addresses.

The editors of PrivacySoftware.biz were split, in this category, on which software was the top selection so the result was a tie. The two programs, which share the honor of top anonymous web surfing software, were Anonymizer and Hide IP Platinum.

Keith said the decision was tough, but the editorial team felt either program would be a good choice for consumers.