If you rely on browser history to keep an eye on your kids' Web surfing habits, you should know that stealth browsing is getting easier --at least for families relying on Windows PCs.

Internet Explorer 8, now available in beta, "lets users surf without having a list of sites they visit get stored on their computers," according to a CNN report. "The program also covers other footprints, including temporary Internet files and cookies, the small data files that Web sites put on visitors' computers to track their activities." USA TODAY even says "anonymous Web browsing ... may be the most attention-grabbing feature in the new Beta 2 release" of Explorer 8.

Microsoft promotes this as new privacy protection -- and it is very valuable if you're not using your own computer.  "InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer 8 helps prevent your browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames and passwords from being retained by the browser, leaving no evidence of your browsing or search history," says Microsoft. 

That's important, but it also gives crafty kids an easy way to cover their Web tracks. The good news -- at least if you use Windows Vista --is that InPrivate Browsing is disabled when Vista's parental controls are active. And while relying on browser history for monitoring your children's Web use is helpful, you should have other protections in place.