Are you afraid someone will find
out you have been here?
Your browser (ie: Netscape and Internet Explorer)
leave traces indicating websites you have visited on the Internet.
Here are some simple things you can do to reduce the chances that
someone can look through your computer and find out what you've been
reading. This doesn't guarantee that your browsing can't be traced.
Someone with stronger computer skills will still be able to reconstruct
your surfing. But it may be wise to make it more difficult for someone
to trace your travels.
You want to erase two different things after you've left here or any
other site that you don't want traced.
- The "cache" of temporary
Internet files (where the computer stores copies of webpages
you've looked at recently with your browser). This will be a directory
that will have various files stored in it. You will want to erase
all of those files.
- Erase your History
list. This will be a single file containing the addresses
of the places you've recently visited.
For the Netscape Navigator
web browser
- Click on edit at
the top of your browser (on the toolbar). Choose preferences,
then advanced, then choose cache. A screen will
appear where you can click on the buttons, Clear Memory Cache
and Clear Disk Cache, click OK. This process clears
the cache of temporary Internet files.
- Click on edit,
choose preferences, then choose navigator. A Clear
History button will appear on the screen. Select it, then
choose OK. This erases your history.
If you've got a more recent
version of Netscape installed on your computer, you will also want
to clear your location bar list. Click on edit, choose preferences,
then choose navigator. Click on the Clear Location Bar
button at the bottom of the window, then choose OK.
For the Internet Explorer web browser
- Open the view (or tools
on newer versions) menu, choose Internet Options, then
choose the general tab at the top. In the section called
Temporary Internet Files, click on Delete Files
to clear your cache. On the same screen, in the section called
History, click on the Clear History button to erase
your history list.
In Internet Explorer, clearing
the cache and history will automatically clear the address bar on
your browser.
For the AOL browser
- Open the Members menu
- Select Preferences
- Click on WWW icon
- Select Advanced
- Then Purge Cache
Other browsers
Other browsers will be slightly different in the detail of what's
required to do these two things. But in any case, what you'll need
to do is clear your cache (or "temporary files") and erase your history
list.
Other Places to Check on Your System
Check the subdirectories in folders held by programs such as MS Word.
You can find these by opening your Windows Explorer or My Computer,
browse to C:\Windows\Word and also C:\Windows\Temp. Browse through
these folders looking for any remainders of pieces of info, pictures,
emails and other information that could be found. They can be viewed
by double clicking them. Delete unwanted files by single clicking,
then hit your "delete" key. Afterward, open the Recycle Bin (trash
can) on your desktop and empty it.
A Word to the Wise
When you clear the cache and the history list, you erase not only
the information on where you've been, but any other information that
had been previously stored there.
Your partner could check, and realize that the cache and the history
list have been completely deleted. He will then know that you know
how to do this, and he might guess that you're trying to hide something.
One possible way to avoid suspicion is to clear the cache and history
once you're done looking at information you don't want your partner
to know about. After they're cleared, spend some time visiting
sites that you think wouldn't cause suspicion - and visit some
favorite sites of your partner's as well.
This way, the cache and history list start to get filled up and your
partner might be less likely to notice that old information is missing.
Deleting Cookies
Cookies are another way your surfing can be tracked. Many websites
use cookies to store information for site visitors that are member-related.
For example, shopping carts, message boards, other user preferences.
Most websites use cookies to enhance your visit in one way or another.
And that's fine, unless you are concerned someone will find out where
you were. The rhiannon3.net website does not use cookies, except
for member accounts on it's message board service. (If you post as
a guest or anonymously with any user name, you will not have
a cookie from our board. The board uses cookies only to store member
account information.)
The following information covers deletion of cookies.
Source: MSN Website, http://update.msn.com/profilemgmt/DelInstructions.asp
In Internet Explorer
5:
- On the Tools
menu, click Internet Options.
- In the General
tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click Settings.
- Click View Files.
- At the top of
the window, click the second column heading, called Internet Address,
to bring your cookie files to the top of the list.
- Find the cookie
file whose name ends with "msn.com" If more than one person uses
the computer, choose the cookie file that begins with your logon,
or sign-in, name.
- Click the file
to select it and then press Delete. Answer Yes to the question
that appears.
In Internet Explorer
4.x:
- On the View
menu, click Internet Options.
- In the Temporary
Internet Files section, click Settings.
- Click View Files.
(Click the Internet Address heading at the top of the window to
bring your cookie files to the top of the list.)
- Find the cookie
file whose name ends with "msn.com" (If multiple users log on
to the computer, choose the cookie file that begins with your
logon name.)
- Click the file
to select it and press Delete. Answer Yes to the question that
appears.
In Internet Explorer
3.x:
- On the View
menu, click Options.
- Click the Advanced
tab.
- In the Temporary
Internet Files section, click View Files. (Click the Internet
Address heading at the top of the window to bring your cookie
files to the top of the list.)
- Find the cookie
file whose name ends with "msn.com" (If multiple users log on
to the computer, choose the cookie file that begins with your
logon name.)
- Click the file
to select it and click Delete.
In Internet Explorer
4.x, Macintosh Edition:
- On the Edit
menu, click Preferences.
- Under Receiving
Files, click Cookies.
- Find the cookie
in the Server column named "msn.com"
- Click Delete.
In Internet Explorer
3.x, Macintosh Edition:
- On the Edit
menu, click Preferences.
- Under Receiving
Files, click Cookies.
- Find the cookie
in the Server column named "msn.com"
- Click Delete.
In Netscape browsers:
Netscape bundles all cookies into one file on your hard disk drive.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that you not attempt to delete
your Netscape cookie. Deleting this cookie will remove the saved values
for all sites visited in Netscape. Should you choose to continue,
please consult Netscape�s documentation or website pages for more
information. |
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