How to Clean Computer Browsers

Internet browsers come with features that make it easy for you to return to your favorite websites. Browsers remember the websites you visit, the information you type into web forms and the terms you enter into search engines. While these features make browsing your favorite websites more efficient, they also expose your browsing history to other computer users. If protecting your privacy is important to you, you can clean the footprints you have left in your browser.

Things You'll Need

• Internet Explorer or Firefox

Instructions

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Click "Tools," then "Internet Options."

3. Under "History," click "Clear History." Click "Yes" to confirm. If you want to discontinue saving websites in your browser's history, set "Days to keep pages in history" to zero.

4. Under "Temporary Internet Files," click "Delete Cookies." Then click "Yes" to confirm. Click "Delete Files." Then click "Yes" to confirm.

5. Click "Settings." Under "Temporary Internet Files folder," move the slider all the way to the left.

6. Click "OK," then "Apply." Click "OK" to save your changes. Close Internet Explorer and reopen it for your changes to take effect.

Firefox for Windows

1. Open Firefox.

2. Select "Tools" from the top menu. Select "Options."

3. Click the "Privacy" icon at the top.

4. Remove the check mark next to the following: "Keep my history for the next (number) days," "Remember what I enter in forms and the search bar" and "Remember what I've downloaded."

5. Under "Cookies," remove the check mark from "Accept cookies from sites."

6. Under "Private Data," click "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox."

7. Close Firefox for your changes to take effect.

Tips & Warnings

• In the Firefox 3.5 version for Mac, select "Tools" from the top menu and click "Clear Recent History." Under the drop-down menu next to "Time Range to Clear," select "Everything." Under "Details," select which elements of your private data you wish to clear. Click "Clear Now."

• In earlier versions of Firefox, select "Tools" from the top menu and click "Clear Private Data." Check "Cache" and "Cookies." Click "Clear Private Data Now."

References

• Computer Hope.com: How do I clear my Internet browser history?
• Indiana University: How to clear web broser's cache and cookies