Deleting Temporary Internet Files

01/07/2009 

You do a lot of important tasks on your computer every day. From checking your bank account balance to sending personal emails, there are dozens of tasks you might perform on a daily basis that you don’t want other people having access to. This is why it is so important to remove and delete of your temporary Internet files regularly. To best ensure that no one other than yourself has access to them, you must be vigilant about making sure they do not remain on your hard drive any longer than necessary.

What Are Temporary Internet Files?

Your temporary Internet files include any number of different kinds of information stored on your computer after you use the Internet. They make it easier and faster to surf the Internet and to access familiar websites. However, they also store information that is best not openly stored on your computer. Different kinds of temporary files include:

• Recent searches performed.
• Recent websites visited.
• Recent video or images viewed.
• Cookies placed on your computer by third parties.
• The names and information of people you communicate with online.

Worse yet, your temporary files could include malicious files and tools that were placed on your computer by a third party through a website. These programs and files can be used to destroy your files or, worse yet, steal your personal information.

The Importance of Deleting These Files

Your browser has automatic settings that will delete your temporary files every set amount of days. However, this timeframe is often much longer than is safe, upwards of 30 days, allowing your personal or volatile information to sit freely on your computer for an entire month. These files contain a wide array of personal information. Every time you visit a website, a cookie is placed in your temporary Internet files to keep track of your visit, your location and your settings. These cookies can contain vital personal information that should not be left around for a month.

Additionally, you may have websites or information that you do not want other people to see you’ve been viewing. These sites are stored in your computer’s temporary folder and are freely accessible for as long as your browser allows them to stay. Knowing how to access and delete temporary files ensures that when you do visit such a website or fear you have too much personal information available on your hard drive, you know how and when to delete it.

How to Delete Your Temporary Internet Files

Each browser has different settings and different options for deleting your temporary Internet files. For Internet Explorer, there are a variety of settings that allow you to delete your Internet history, temporary files, saved passwords, and cookies. These options are located in the Tools>Internet Options>General tab, under a button labeled, “Delete all offline content”. This will allow you to remove any files your browser has saved to your hard drive.

Additionally, Windows has a Disk Cleanup option located in the System Tools menu that allows you to remove all temporary and sensitive files from your computer. It is a good idea to clean up and remove all of your temporary files at least once a week to ensure you do not build up a cache of sensitive information. Additionally, whenever you want to ensure extra privacy, use these tools directly after visiting a website.

Download Privacy Controls now and protect your PC from snoops!