How to Erase Search History…

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:14:52 +0000

Before we proceed to describe how you can manually erase the search history from your computer’s hard drive it is essential to know what search history is, their types, how they function as well as their benefits and harms.

Search History

All of us are aware of the fact that when we begin to type in a Google or Yahoo! search box, there appears a drop-down list comprising all searches you have ever typed. It is pointless to mention that your search history or ‘AutoComplete’ mechanically records all the searches you have made or the websites visited by you. This aspect is often helpful to the Internet user, but may also pose a serious threat to his or her privacy and security. A feature incorporated in your Web browser called AutoComplete is responsible for saving the list of all your searches or sites surfed by you. In fact, the AutoComplete History records anything and everything that you type in a Web page – including your name, e-mail id, logins, passwords, credit card numbers, address and the like. Hence, when someone else uses your computer and gives a search on any Web site, they are able to view all your Internet search activities threatening your privacy and security.

Types of Search History

Basically there are two types of search history and they include:

Search history stored by the Web browser.
Search history stored by Windows.

Browser Search History: The items automatically saved in the hard disk of your computer when you browse the Internet. These stored data facilitates accessing the previously visited Web pages faster as the Web browser doesn’t have to download them again.

Windows Search History: The search history automatically recorded by Windows in Windows Explorer. Windows search history may be viewed by anyone when he or she begins to type a new search in the search box.

Need to Erase Search History

There are two reasons why one needs to erase the search history from his or her computer hard drive. First, since the computer tracks and saves all Internet surfing activities of the user, it may pose as a security and privacy threat to them when someone else uses the same computer. They will be able to view all the search history of the original Internet user. Secondly, the storage of data relating to the Internet user’s browsing activities consumes significant space on the hard drive and slows down the Internet connectivity. In order to avoid both, it is necessary to delete the search history from time to time. This will keep your computer clean, safe and running up to speed.

How To Erase Search History

Erasing search history from a computer’s hard disk does not require much effort or time. The process may be undertaken manually or by using history eraser software. Here we will discuss the steps required for deleting search history manually in Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 7.0
If your Web browser is IE 7.0, you may successfully delete all search history from your hard drive using the following procedure:

Click on ‘Tools’ menu at the top of the browser.
Next, select the ‘Internet Options’ in the ‘Tools’ menu.
This will display the ‘General’ button, hit on it.
Here, in the ‘Browsing History’ part click on the ‘Delete’ button.
Then, click on the ‘Delete Forms’ in the ‘Delete Browsing History’ window.
You will find the ‘Yes’ option, click on it.
To complete the procedure, click on the ‘Close’ tab followed by a hit on the ‘OK’ button.

Erase Search History in Internet Explorer 5.x/ 6.x
Those using the Internet Explorer 5.x/ 6.x versions should follow the procedure explained below to manually delete search history from their computer hard drive.

Go to ‘Tools’ menu at the top of your browser and click on it.
This will open up a drop-down list, click on the ‘Internet Options’.
Next, hit on the ‘Content’ button and open up the ‘Browsing History’ area.
In ‘Browsing History’, hit on the ‘AutoComplete’ option.
Here, you will find two options – ‘Clear Forms’ and ‘Clear Passwords. Click on ‘Clear Forms’ tab to delete all search history stored in the hard drive.
End the procedure by clicking on the ‘OK’ tab.

Editor’s Note

Even though manually clearing your search history is a good start. Youre privacy is still at risk. The only way to completely clear all your internet history is with special software. For a list of recommended software to click here to read our reviews of the top privacy software on the market today

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