Cleaning Internet history

Your browser saves all the actions taken by you during surfing the Internet. So, each program that you ran, every single website where you landed, data submitted by you on various websites, every search string that you typed in search engines like Google, Yahoo or MSN to find specific information and even more are saved and stored. Perhaps this explains the importance of cleaning Internet history so that you are able to protect your privacy.

The storage of Internet history in your PC can improve the loading speed of a webpage, thereby making web surfing easier. However, if you are not the only person using that particular computer

, this could spell trouble. In case you share the computer with your spouse, other family members or roommates, people could see the whole thing that you have done while being online. Not erasing the Internet history may be a danger to your privacy and can even land you in an uncomfortable situation. So, cleaning Internet history should figure high on your to-do list.

You can clean the Internet history of your PC either through some special software or manually. However, as your computer stores the Internet history at diverse locations, merely cleaning browser history, cache and cookies won’t be sufficient. Even if you click the “Delete” button to erase Internet history files files and utilize the “Empty Recycle Bin” alternative, it may not erase the Internet history perpetually. Nevertheless, you can take these simple steps to clean your Internet browser history:

For Firefox:

1. Go to “Tools” from the menu bar.


2. Click on “Clear Private Data” from the drop down box which will delete every single bit of saved passwords and personal data from your computer.


3. Do away with third-party “extensions” and “toolbars” separately, if you have any.

For Internet Explorer 7:

1. Click on “Tools” and choose “Internet Options”.


2. Next, choose the “General” tab.


3. After that, in browsing history, click the “Delete” button.


4. From the “Delete Browsing History” window that opens, choose “Delete All” for cleaning Internet history.


5. The computer will ask for your final confirmation.


6. Check the box stating: “Also Delete files and settings stored by add-ons.” After doing this, click the button that has “Yes” written on it.


7. Lastly, in “Internet Options” window, click the OK button.


8. Just like you have done in Firefox, wipe out the third-party “extensions” and “toolbars”.

For AOL (America Online):

1. Try to find the “settings” button at the top of your browser window.


2. After clicking this button, opt for “preferences”.


3. Select “toolbar and sounds" and subsequently click on the “clear history trail now” button.

Though these are the basic steps for cleaning Internet history, you may find out that minor differences exist as you move from one browser to another. So, examine the browser that you use to know what exact steps need to be followed for cleaning Internet history. Remember that you should wipe out your browsing history from the computer so that your privacy remains unharmed and you can have an enjoyable surfing experience.