untangling_the_web

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You can manually clear your browser each time you use it, and as I explained in the
previous section, current versions of Internet Explorer offer an option to clear the
browser cache automatically when you close the browser. However, this only
addresses the cache issue. Firefox provides an easy way to delete stored
information of various types either as you are working online or whenever you close
your browser. The default setting of the "Clear private data" option in Firefox will
delete:
~ your browsing history.
~ form data (this could include credit card numbers).
~ your download history, cache, and authenticated sessions (the kind of
sessions likely to include passwords).
The "Clear private data" option leaves saved passwords and cookies alone unless
you tell it otherwise. I doubt if many users want to preclude the use of cookies
altogether; cookies placed on your computer from the originating site (that means
the site you are visiting) rarely present a problem and are a genuine help in many
instances (for example, cookies let you set preferences at a search engine so you
don't have to reset them every time you go there). By now most people know they
probably do not want third party cookies, that is, cookies placed on your computer by
some uninvited third party, such as from a banner ad. You can tell Firefox (and other
browsers, too) to save cookies for the originating site only and leave the "Cookies"
option unchecked on the "Clear private data" form. Also keep in mind that Firefox
lets you browse, search, and delete individual (or all) cookies using the "View
cookies" option.
Saving passwords is a more controversial subject. My preference is not to let any
browser save any of my passwords, but many experts think having Firefox manage
them for you (with a very strong Master Password) is actually safer than writing them
down. I disagree; most people don't break into a house in order to break into a
computer. One important caveat: do not use the Firefox Remember passwords'
option on a laptop. That way, if someone steals your laptop and accesses the
account, the thief will not have access to every saved password you have stored. It
is too easy to get at the Firefox Master Password, which in turn will unlock every
password saved by Firefox on that laptop.
If you want Firefox to remember your passwords, here is the safest way to do it:
Select Tools I Options I Privacy I Passwords and check "Remember Passwords"
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