David Parkin Business Editor
Surfing: Ajaz Ahmed and his new product, Browzar.
FREESERVE founder Ajaz Ahmed has launched a new free internet browser which allows users to surf the web without leaving a history of websites visited and protects against leaving personal details on computers.
The Yorkshire-based entrepreneur claims his Browzar product is the first to give privacy for those using the internet.
He said: "Browzar will do for surfing and searching the web with privacy what eBay did for auctions and My Space did for social networking. It is the first in a range of products that we'll be rolling out this year.
"We divulge masses of information about our habits, hobbies and financial dealings while online, often unknowingly, and there are times when all of us would rather this was kept private. Using Browzar, anyone worldwide can surf the web privately in the knowledge that no-one will stumble across the sites they have visited when using the same computer."
Free and downloadable in seconds or run directly from the web, Browzar does not require any installation or registration and doesn't save information from any websites visited while using it. Cache, history, cookies and auto-complete forms are all automatically deleted by it. "You can use Browzar through your existing internet window to run it directly from the web, so you don't even need to download it to the computer you use.
"If using a shared computer, it gives you peace of mind that you are not leaving personal details behind after you have finished surfing the Web," said Mr Ahmed, who is running the Browzar business from his offices in Huddersfield.
While Browzar will allow people the privacy to do their online banking or check their private e-mail accounts while on other computers, such as at work or in internet cafes, it also could be used for the wrong reasons by those accessing illegal material on the internet.
However Mr Ahmed said that Browzar did not interfere with information stored by internet service providers about sites visited which can be made available to authorities investigating suspected illegal activities.
Mr Ahmed said: "Although it's possible to delete history folders and empty cache with existing internet browsers, the majority of internet users worldwide don't have the time or expertise to do this. There is no free method that offers the freedom to surf the web privately that is as simple and easy to use as Browzar."
Browzar embodies Mr Ahmed's trademark appro-ach to technology. Having worked on the shop floor of Dixons for 16 years prior to the success of Freeserve, Ahmed has a unique understanding of the consumer mindset.
Freeserve was a European internet service provider (ISP) which gave internet access for free to people who bought a computer from Dixons and was sold to Wanadoo for £1.6bn .
Browzar makes money through 'pay-per-click' – it will be paid by the internet search engines every time a user clicks on a sponsored link on their sites.
Mr Ahmed said that while payments are small, if Browzar is being used worldwide then they would be significant.
"It is aimed at the global market and we've got future products that we will launch in the coming months using similar technology."
Browzar can be accessed and downloaded from www.browzarcom
david.parkin@ypn.co.uk
