untangling_the_web

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In Internet Explorer:
Tools I Internet Options I Content I AutoComplete Settings
Uncheck the second and third boxes (forms and user names and passwords on
forms).
Be sure to Delete AutoComplete History (in IE?) or Clear Forms and Clear
Passwords (in IE6) to remove any stored data.
Firefox & the "Clear Private Data" Option
One of the many nice features of Mozilla's Firefox browser is the "Clear Private
Data" option. First, why did Mozilla include this option and why would you want to
consider using it? A lot of websites imply this option is just for people doing things on
a shared computer that they don't want others to know about, but that is an
extremely narrow understanding of why it is important to remove certain personal
data from your browser and computer. After logging off a secure website, especially
your bank's or credit card's site, have you ever gotten a message like this?
Thank you.
You IhMsuccessfuf!y IO!JlJed off.
F or your ' sec urity'weJecomme ~d youtloseyour brO'#ser.You may1IJ9 on again.
Why is a secure site recommending you close your browser? Browsers do a very
good job of keeping track of when and where you have been on the Internet and, in
some cases, what you have been doing. Browsers are usually set to save or cache
the pages you visit so that the next time you visit that page, you will not have to wait
forthe server to send the page to your browser. While this makes your surfing faster,
it also causes a small but real vulnerability by creating a record of your browsing
history. In the case of a site where you have entered information such as a
password, a credit card number, your Social Security Number, etc., that information
filled into a form on the web may remain in your cache and therefore on your
computer. While it is unlikely a malicious user is going to get that information, it is
not impossible. Also, if you ever use a computer that others can access, remember,
they can get that information, so why not take a few steps to improve your privacy
and security?
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