Clear Your Browsers Cache
By Richard Rogers

Knowing how to clear your browsers cache is an important element of protecting your privacy online. The cache is where your web browsers stores parts of websites you visit online. The goal is to speed up your web browsing experience by keeping parts of the website stored on your computer in the "cache" as opposed to downloading them again. These means that pages you visit regularly are loaded quicker. Internet Explorer users will know the cache as "Temporary Internet Files."

What Files Are Stored in Your Browsers Cache?

All types of files related to the websites you visit are stores in the cache. These include image files like JPEG or GIF files. The actual web page HTML file can also be downloaded and stored on your computer.

Why You Need to Clear Your Browsers Cache?

There are a couple of issues you need to be aware of. Firstly, the cache takes up space on your hard disk which could impact your computer's performance. Also you may find that it is necessary to re-load a web page to get the most up to date version. However, the biggest issue relates to your privacy.

Your web browser's cache leave a virtual "paper trial" of the websites you visit. A person with access to your web browser's cache could easily figure out which website you visit and see examples of the content which could potentially be very embarrassing!

How to Clear Your Browsers Cache?

Here are the instruction for the 2 most popular web browsers - FireFox and Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer - from the main menu bar select Tools>Internet Options. Select "temporary internet files" or "browsing history" (in Internet Explorer 7) and hit the "Delete" button.

FireFox - from the main menu bar select Tools>Internet Options>Privacy. The go the "Private Data" section, select "settings" and make sure "cache" is selected. You can then click the "Clear Now" button to clean the cache. In newer version there is a short cut key so you can clear your cache without having to navigate through the menu options.

Is there an Easier Way to Clear Your Browsers Cache?

The cache is not the only set of files that your computer collects which can cause serious privacy issues. Your browser for example stores a history of the URLs you visit. The Windows operating system also stores a list of files you recently accessed including media files like videos which you download.

Thankfully there are a number of good software products which help you clear your browsers cache and the other files which may cause privacy risks. My recommendation is below. Try a free scan and see what potential privacy risks are lurking on your computer.

Richard Rogers is a PC enthusiast and runs a number of PC related sites. If you are worried about your privacy then take a free scan of your computer here - Free Privacy Scan

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