It is important to delete the history items on your computer. First, it will help to safeguard the personal information on your computer. Secondly, it will free up resources since Web history can take up a lot of space depending on how much you surf the Web and how long you retain these temporary files. These directions might vary slightly depending on the version of the browser that you are using. However, you should be able to figure it out with these directions as guidelines.

Deleting Web History in Internet Explorer 7

• Open Internet Explorer
• Navigate to “Tools” at the top
• Click “Delete Browsing History”
• Click “Delete Files”

Deleting Web History in Internet Explorer (Earlier Versions)

• Open Internet Explorer
• Navigate to “Tools” at the top
• Select the “General” tab in the Internet Options dialog box
• Select “clear history” This is located in the third section
• You can also elect to clear “delete cookies” and “delete files” in the section for Temporary Internet files
• Click “OK”

Deleting Web History in Netscape:

• Open Netscape
• Navigate to “Edit” and select menu
• Select “Preferences”
• Select “Navigator” listed
• Select “clear history” in the history listing
• Click “OK”

Deleting Web History in Mozilla

• Open Mozilla
• Navigate to “Edit” and select open menu
• Select “Preferences”
• Select “Navigator”
• Select “clear history”
• Click “OK”

Deleting Web History in Firefox:

• Open Firefox
• Navigate to “Tools” at the top
• Select the “Privacy” tab
• Clear button in front of “history”, “remember what I enter”, and “remember what I’ve downloaded”
• Click “OK”

Deleting Web History in Opera:

• Open Opera
• Navigate to “Edit” and select menu
• Select “Preferences”
• Select “Navigator”
• Select “clear history”
• Click “OK”

Whenever I use the Internet, my usage leaves traces of my visits on my hard drive even after I exit the browser. My computer automatically records and stores this data. Web tracks include all of the following: browser cache, browser history, cookies, address bar history, and autocomplete history.

Although this might seem innocents at first, and I might think that I don’t need to worry about it, I should be concerned. After all, anyone who gains access to my computer can look up all of the web pages that I have visited. They can easily discover every image or video that I have viewed using my computer along with all of the Web pages that I have ever visited.

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Just thinking about all of the important data that I have ever used when visiting specific websites is upsetting. Imagine all of the different usernames and passwords that someone else might be able to access from these web tracks. Examples if some of the data that is stored include the URLs that I have typed into my browser bars, the specific identifiers from every individual web page that I have visited, a record of the keywords that I have typed into search bars in my browsers and on web pages, and the information derived from the individual web pages. All of this data is stored on the computer.

Plus, do you know what is stored in the autocomplete history file? Personal information such as email addresses, account numbers, passwords, street addresses, phone numbers, and more are kept in this file. Coworkers, friends, and family members who borrow my computer for just a few minutes to check their email account or browse some website can easily retrieve this information. Plus, if they can do it, so can any spyware application that invades my computer. How much do I really want people to know about me?

At first I wondered why computers would be set up to retain all of this data. While some of this information might not include sensitive data, quite a bit of it does do so. However, the primary reason behind Web tracks is to enable quicker loading of Web pages whenever someone is surfing the Net.

In this rat race world where we have so little time to accomplish all of our goals and dreams, time is an important commodity. Of course, people are inclined to cut corners and save time where they can. But is it worth the risk of exposing some of all of our most sensitive personal data? Of course not! That’s why I whole heartedly recommend that computer users purchase a web track cleaning tool such as Paretologic’s Privacy Controls.

Paretologic’s Privacy Control doesn’t just delete all evidence of your web tracks, it shreds them so no one can ever find them. This application can permanently erase data from the following programs: Outlook, Kazaa, MSN Messenger, Microsoft Office, and Internet Explorer as well as many more.

While it’s a good idea to remove your Web history from time to time, doing so may also remove other features that you may or may not want removed. For example, if you use AutoComplete to store your user names and passwords for various websites, removing the entire history will also remove your stored information. This can cause problems, especially if you have relied on this stored data and have since forgotten your log on credentials.

I use Internet Explorer 7 which allows you to individually delete related Web browsing histories such as temporary Internet files, cookies, history, form data, and stored passwords. Each option has its purpose.

Temporary Internet Files - When you browse the Internet, your computer stores copies of Web pages and images locally on your computer. The purpose of doing so is to speed up your browsing experience. Each time you re-visit a website, the computer already has the required images on the hard drive and doesn’t have to re-download them.

The problem with temporary Internet files is that they take up a great deal of space on your computer and can cause performance problems when too many files are clogging your hard disk. Another problem is that these files serve as Internet tracks, detailing the types of websites you’ve been visiting and the photos you’ve been looking at.

Cookies - Cookies are small files stored on your computer that allow websites to customize your visiting experience. For example, by entering your zip code, you can get custom information about your community such as local headlines or weather reports. However, not all cookies are harmless. Many cookies keep track of your Web browsing activities and then serve up advertisements based on this information. In addition, by looking at your cookies folders, others can see the types of websites you’ve been visiting.

History - The history contains URLs of the websites you’ve visited. While this can be useful to you, it can also be detrimental, especially if you don’t want others to see which websites you’ve been visiting. Deleting the history will also delete the automatic URL entry feature of the address bar.

Form Data - When deleting history items, form data is often deleted at the same time. If you have AutoComplete enabled to automatically save form data such as user names and your address, deleting form data will delete the information you currently have stored.

Passwords - Similar to form data, you can set up AutoComplete to store your passwords so that you don’t have to manually enter them each time you visit a website.

Fortunately, when deleting history items in Internet Explorer 7, you can delete these items individually, picking and choosing which items to keep. You can also delete them all at once if so desired. How often you delete your information is up to you. Doing so isn’t difficult but your privacy is only as good as your last clean up. A better way is to invest in privacy protection software and automate these tasks.

Your computer offers “saved form data” and “saved passwords” in order to make your Web browsing more convenient. I have to admit, it’s nice to be able to go to a website and have my user name and password pre-filled out. But, it’s not always the most secure thing to do. If someone were to steal my laptop, they’d be able to log into websites as if they were me.

Saved form data is also convenient - imagine never having to type in your address or credit card number again. Instead, you can have the computer automatically fill in this data on web forms for you. Convenient? Yes. Secure? No.

AutoComplete stores entries that you’ve made on visits to websites and then offers suggestions for using them again on similar forms. AutoComplete stores the following information:

• Web addresses
• Forms
• User names and passwords on forms

Fortunately, these options are easy to change. These instructions are for Internet Explorer 7. Other versions of Internet Explorer have similar steps. First, go into Internet Explorer and click the Tools menu. Click on Internet options. Now, click the Content tab. Find the AutoComplete section and click on Settings. Here you’ll find checkboxes for each of the AutoComplete setting options. If you do not want AutoComplete to fill in any information for you, remove all checkmarks from the check boxes.

You can also set up AutoComplete to prompt you when saving user names and passwords. This gives you greater control over which passwords you save. Use this option if you want to be able to make your own decisions.

Once you have removed these options, it’s time to delete previously saved form data. This too is simple. Go back into Internet Options. This time, select the General tab and find the browsing history area. Click the Delete button. Next, you’ll see a screen listing the following five options for deletion:

• Temporary Internet Files
• Cookies
• History
• Form Data
• Passwords

In this case, we’re interested in deleting Form Data and Passwords but it doesn’t hurt to delete all of these items. You can either delete each item individually or you can delete them all at once by hitting the Delete All button.

What are cookies? And what’s their function?

If you ask the Cookie Monster, you’ll get an answer such as “Me love cookies.” But if you ask me, computer cookies are a mixed bag of tricks. Cookies are small text files that are saved on your computer after visiting websites. Their purpose is to enhance your experience. That is, they save information about your preferences so that the next time you visit the website, your browsing experience is customized.

For example, if you go to Amazon.com and order a book about breeding golden retrievers, the next time you visit, you might be taken to a page showing you books about dog obedience training or hunting with bird dogs.

Another good use for cookies is for customizing certain pages. For example, you can set up many web pages to display content specifically to meet your needs such as by entering your birth date in order to get a daily horoscope and your zip code to get the local weather report.

So, if cookies are so useful, what’s the problem? Just as with any technology, a good thing in the wrong hands isn’t so good after all. Data mining cookies can track your Web surfing habits and “customize” and experience you don’t want at all. For example, say you’re searching the Internet for information about golden retrievers. Next thing you know, you’re getting pop-up advertisements and e-mail messages hawking everything from dog bones to arthritis medicine for your aging golden retriever’s aching hips.

Another issue is that because cookies are stored on your computer, they leave a track of many of the websites you’ve been visiting. Simply by looking in the cookies folder, anyone can see the evidence of recently visited websites.

Here’s another problem - junk mail and spam. Cookies can track more than just the orders you’ve placed or the zip code you’ve entered. They can record the pages you’ve visited, the ads that you’ve clicked on, your IP address, and much more about your Web surfing habits. When you place an order or register with the Website, your name and address become linked to this information which becomes a goldmine to marketers. Not only might this company start sending you unwanted junk mail and spam, they might take it a step further and sell your information to others. Suddenly, your mailbox is packed to the brim with offers related to your initial order.

A large network called DoubleClick serves up banner advertisements all over the Internet and collects information about visitor’s habits. As more information is collected, a huge profile about your surfing habits across the Internet (not just a particular Website) is created - another goldmine to marketers.

Cookies have their good points and their bad points. While I like having a custom experience, I don’t like giving marketers any more information than possible. Because of this I limit the type of cookies I’ll accept. Yes, you can do that. Go to Internet Options (found in the Tools menu of Internet Explorer) and click on the Privacy tab. Now, slide the settings bar up and down the scale and read the different options. Choose the option that works best for you. 

Many people don’t think they need to worry about computer privacy because they have nothing to hide. After all, they are only using their PCs to access their e-mails, share family photos with the relatives, or search the Internet for rather tame pursuits such as the latest knitting patterns or gardening advice. Who cares, right?

Wrong. Computer privacy is a huge issue. You don’t have to be a conspirator, criminal, or pedophile to be affected by computer privacy issues. The majority of computer users are just like you and me. We go online, check our e-mails, check out the latest stock reports, watch a silly YouTube video, download our bank statements, buy a few books, and go about our day-to-day business. Once again - who cares?

Law enforcement cares. Snoops in the office care. Your boss cares. Your spouse cares. Spyware developers care. People who get their hands on your hard drive once you recycle your computer care. Let’s just look at the financial aspect alone. Does your hard drive have all of your bank account numbers on it? Passwords? Social Security Number? Tax returns? What a goldmine for identity thieves!

So, what can you do to protect your privacy?

Awareness is the first step. Now that you are aware that privacy is a concern - even for you - you can start computing safer. First, regularly clear your computer’s Temporary Files, Browser History, Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, Saved Form Data, and Saved Passwords.

Next, search your computer (including system files and hidden files) for any files named index.dat and delete these files regularly. Index.dat files store Web sites and e-mails sent in hidden files. Even if you clear your history, the index.dat files remain.

Do not allow Windows to store your passwords. This is a pain, I know. But you’ll have to deal with it. Otherwise, anyone who has access to your computer can get in to your financial accounts.

Password-protect sensitive files on your computer and then permanently delete these files once you’re done with them. For example, if you’ve created a master document containing all of your assets and liabilities as part of an estate planning document, password-protect it. Once printed out and placed in a safe deposit box, permanently delete the file. This doesn’t mean to delete it and empty the Recycle Bin; it means use a software utility designed for shredding electronic documents. Why? Because data recovery software is readily available to anyone and anyone with this technology can recover erased data - including from formatted disks!

When throwing away CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and other media devices containing data or recycling your computer use this same shredding technology to completely erase the contents once and for all. You never know where your discarded storage devices will end up so make sure that the data once contained on these devices is gone for good.

Be stingy with your personal information. Phishing scams are more sophisticated than ever. Remember that the companies you do business with already have the information they need. They won’t require “confirmation” of your Social Security Number or threaten to shut down your account if you don’t divulge it.

Finally, secure your computer with a password and with security software including antivirus, antispyware, and privacy protection.