What it basically does is to send the user input to a Google service that is analyzing it and sending suggestions back. While this could be an interesting feature for some users who love to explore new websites it also made quite a few users uncomfortable in knowing that Google would get all that user input delivered on a golden platter.

Internet Explorer 8 is making use of exactly the same feature that is automatically suggesting websites based on the previous input of the user. The suggested sites setting in Internet Explorer 8 reports the user’s browsing history to Microsoft who in turn send recommended sites back to the user.

While this might be an interesting feature it will raise the same alarm bells that are still ringing from Google Chrome’s data collection hunger. (Google admitted to store 2% of the data with IP addresses, no word on how Microsoft intends to use or store the data).

Turning that feature off in Internet Explorer 8 is fortunately as easy as turning it off In Google Chrome. Users simply have to click on Tools > Suggested Sites to turn if off (or on if it is turned off and the feature is wanted)