Frequently Asked Questions:

Note: Some of these questions refer to external site navigation through a proxy, which is currently disabled due to high usage as an anonymizer.

• Usage
  • Why don't many external web sites work with the BrowsePal "portal" function?
    In order to share content external to BrowsePal.com, BrowsePal needs to translate all of the web pages, which is a time-consuming process. However, we plan on adding more local content, like our integrated BrowsePal Shopping and BrowsePal Maps, and our goal is to continually improve the external site translation function, so more external web sites will be sharable.
  • What type of external web sites currently do not work?
    Some web sites use popups, cause new browser windows to launch or use anti-proxy code, which may interrupt BrowsePal. If the BrowsePal menu bar disappears, then the session has been broken, and the browser 'back' buttons may be able to get it back on track.
  • What type of content currently does not work?
    Flash (such as YouTube). (note: future support is planned.)
  • What software needs to be installed in order to share webpages?
    None. The "browser" and the "viewer" just need a modern web browser, such as IE6+ or FireFox. No Flash, or other plug-ins, are needed.
  • Can I use my web browser control buttons, such as 'home', 'reload', and favorites?
    'Forward', 'back' and 'reload' can be used. 'Home' and 'favorites' will bring you directly to those respective locations, not shared with BrowsePal.
• Security
  • Who can see the content that I'm browsing?
    Only viewers that you've provided the sharing link to. And, the selected viewers stop seeing your content once you stop the session, or exit BrowsePal.
  • Will the viewer be able to see the passwords I enter?
    No. Passwords (that are defined as passwords by the source web page, such as those that can not be seen as they are entered) are not sent to the viewer.
  • Does the viewer have access to the browser's web cookies?
    No. Cookies are shared between the user's browser and web server, just like normal cookie behavior, and the BrowsePal technology does not require any cookies to be exposed to the viewer.
  • Does BrowsePal store cookies?
    No. Cookies are passed through the BrowsePal system, and are not stored.
• General
  • Is BrowsePal an "anonymizer"?
    While BrowsePal's external site portal uses proxy technology, similar to anonymization portals, BrowsePal is not meant to be used as an anonymizer.
  • Can the viewer interact with the web page, such as by entering data in a form or clicking a link?
    Yes, but they shouldn't. The change will be undone the next time the other user makes a change. Soon this ability may be disabled.