By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Let's face it, web surfing is messy. As we trawl the web for work or for relaxation, we leave behind cookies, breadcrumbs and a trackable history of where we've been and what we've looked at. This isn't much of an issue when we use our own computers but becomes a greater security risk when we use various public PCs. Canadian-made SurfEasy is a simple and elegant solution that keeps user's information safe and anonymous.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Browser
SurfEasy ($60.00 online) offers secure web surfing solution that's based on a thin USB key. The USB key and its case are not bigger or thicker than an ID card. Pop the USB end into your PC or Mac and it will prompt you to install the software.
It works on Windows 7, Vista and even XP plus Mac OS 10.6 or later. The USB key includes 2GB of encryption per month through SurfEasy's private network. How secure is it? Well, SurfEasy uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer ) TLS version 1.0 and is hosted on a virtual private network located in the US and also in Canada.
Users who need more security can purchase additional 25GB of encryption for $5 a month or 75GB for $10 a month in the SurfEasy website.
Within seconds, it will generate a secure browser which, unlike normal web browsers that store all your personal information (like history, passwords and bookmarks) on the computer, it stores everything exclusively on the SurfEasy key.
So, when users are done browsing the Internet, they simply remove the SurfEasy key and walk away with all their personal information safely with them and not on the computer for others to find. No cookies, no cache or breadcrumbs left behind.
Like SurfEasy says, it is like you were never there.
Actual user experience
SurfEasy uses the Mozilla browser better known as FireFox, so users already familiar with the regular version of FireFox will feel right at home.
The SurfEasy version is more safety aware, it will give you pop ups each time you go to unencrypted or unsecure websites that may leak information before you proceed. This can get tedious as a large percentage of the web isn't as secure as SurfEasy's standards.
In terms of surfing speed and performance, the SurfEasy variant of FireFox seems to be up to par with what we are used to. It is quite clear that a lot of the processing takes place in the USB key as it constantly lights up to signify activity. if there is a lag because of this, it is hardly discernible. The USB key, after all, is a physical buffer between you and the PC you are using.
The added convenience of this solution is that you don't have to worry about passwords (except for the one password for SurfEasy) and you can carry all your bookmarks as well as surfing history with you regardless of what machine you are using.
I've used the brilliant XMarks extension to synch my favourite bookmarks between browsers and it works well on the SurfEasy solution. SurfEasy also has various widgets for secure local search and can even be used as USB storage (124MB, not much).
Conclusion
Savvy Internet users can tweak and calibrate their browsers to be secure but this becomes increasingly difficult for those of us who use various PCs or Macs at work or at home.
With a lot of our computing becoming cloud based, the browser really is the first line of defense from web-based threats and tracking.
A nice little extra is that the SurfEasy sometimes generates a US IP address, which means websites you visit will think you are in the United States and as a result might grant you access to content such as videos that are region-blocked.
SurfEasy's secure key is convenient and easy to use. It is the best example of a plug and play security solution for users who use webmail, do online banking and transactions and who want to keep their surfing history and passwords secure. As someone who travels a lot and who often has to use strange PCs, it is a welcome and sensible solution that just works.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5