Databrowser Security Setup

Has anyone dealt with setting up databrowser security for those outside of HR/Payroll?  I am told we cannot secure by table/file and we are to use field level.  I'm hesitant to use field security because you are getting into a world of possibly impacting other business funtions and programs and there are so many fields from so many files it just doesn't make sense to do that.  I know it's been done but I don't know how.  Do yo have to be on the any particular tools release to benefit from this setup?

Thanks